Delegates to the Modern Language Association’s (MLA) annual convention in Chicago have passed a resolution blaming Israel for its “denials of entry to the West Bank by U.S. academics who have been invited to teach, confer, or do research at Palestinian universities.’’
After an acrimonious debate, the MLA’s delegate assembly voted the resolution by 60-53.
But they rejected another resolution expressing support with the American Studies Association (ASA) to boycott Israeli universities. That resolution, defeated 59-41, “condemns the attacks on the ASA and supports the right of academic organizations and individuals, free from intimidation, to take positions in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle against racism.”
The MLA is the principal American organization for academics who teach language and literature.
The approved resolution goes to the MLA’s executive committee for consideration next month. If the executive committee approves it, it goes to the full membership.
The World Jewish Congress in the United States condemned the MLA’s’’one-sided and biased resolution’’.
Rabbi Joel H. Meyers, Chairman of WJC, US said: “We are deeply disappointed that the MLA Delegate Assembly would single out Israel, holding it to a double standard. This biased resolution fails to recognize that many countries, including Israel, have visa requirements, and that Israel must take extra care regarding border security, considering the constant attacks on its civilians from Palestinian areas. The resolution also fails to acknowledge the academic freedom that is the hallmark of Israel.” The MLA resolution is widely seen as a stalking horse for the anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, which scored a victory last month when the 5,000 member American Studies Association voted to adopt a boycott.
The ASA vote was since then denounced by more than 100 American universities.
According to the JC, the MLA convention featured a “roundtable discussion” proposing a boycott that included no pro-Israel voices. It said the MLA declined the request of Hillel International and the Israel Campus Coalition to hold a counter session on academic freedom in Israel during the convention. WJC President Ronal reacted strongly to the ASA boycott vote by saying: ‘’This vote to boycott Israel, one of the most democratic and academically free nations on the globe, shows the Orwellian anti-Semitism and moral bankruptcy” of the ASA.’’