Prof. A. Mark Clarfield, Director of BGU's Medical School for International Health, and three colleagues from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have written a strongly worded letter to theAmerican Anthropological Association (AAA) demanding a fair hearing for Israel in the debate about a proposed resolution to boycott Israeli academics and academic institutions as part of the BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) movement.
A Task Force had been set up by the AAA to provide a background report ahead of the proposed resolution. Clarfield, Vice Dean and Sidonie Hecht Professor of Geriatrics, from BGU'sFaculty of Health Sciences and an(Adjunct) Professor at McGill University and his co-writers criticized the methods of the Task Force for failing to include the “multiple perspectives” touted by the AAA report but instead including only Palestinian viewpoints or those in favor of BDS.
Clarfield and his colleagues also protested the inclusion of “outright fabrications,” “distortions,” and “exaggerations” throughout the report and provided specific examples of each in their letter.
They asked and demanded that the letter be circulated to the membership of the AAA prior to the electronic vote regarding the resolution.
Prof. Alisse Waterston, president of the AAA, has offered that “The AAA Executive Board will study the contents of your letter in its deliberations of the recommendations offered in the Task Force report,” but made no mention of circulating the letter to the general membership.
Letter to American Anthropological Association.pdf
