This is Huge!!!! Since 1966 the Middle East Studies Association (MESA) is considered the most important scholarly academic group in the field of Middle East studies in the US. MESA members approved a proposal on Monday adopting the rights of its members to support an academic boycott and end cooperation with Israeli academic institutions. The proposal was passed by a majority of 265 against 79. Excerpts of the resolution:Resolved, That the MESA membership: Affirms that calls for institutional boycott, divestment, and/or sanctions are protected free speech and legitimate forms of non-violent political action and; Affirms the right of MESA members to engage in open and transparent discussion of the boycott of Israeli academic institutions in the context of the Annual Meeting and other and; Affirms the right of the memberships of all organizations to discuss, debate, and endorse or not endorse the BDS campaign; and Deplores the measures of intimidation directed against the American Studies Association, the Association for Asian American Studies, the Critical Ethnic Studies Association, and the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association, among other associations, and some of their individual members, as we MESA members uphold the principles of free speech that protect the expression of such views and actions.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 23:59:36 +0000