Shurat Hadin reports:
The Teachers Union of Ireland recently voted to end all academic links to the Jewish democracy, including joint research and exchange programs. The resolution, which calls Israel an “apartheid state,” was unanimously passed and stresses that the body must “cease cultural and academic collaboration with Israel, including the exchange of scientists, students and academic personalities, as well as all cooperation in research programs.”
The union represents more than 15,000 teachers and lecturers. The motion further demands the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to “step up its campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against the apartheid state of Israel until it lifts its illegal siege of Gaza and its illegal occupation of the West Bank, and agrees to abide by International law and all UN Resolutions against it.”
One of the backers of the resolution noted that the “BDS is a noble non-violent method of resisting Israeli militarism, occupation and apartheid, and there is no question that Israel is implementing apartheid policies against the Palestinians. Indeed, many veterans of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa have said that it’s worse than what was experienced there.”
The measure is thought to be the first full academic boycott approved by a European teaching union and leaders within the union have now moved to call on all European academic unions to approve similar motions.