University of Johannesburg Has Officially Severed Ties with Israel’s Ben-Gurion University

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UJ ENDS ISRAELI LINKS - Historic moment for boycott of Israel movement


Today, setting a worldwide precedent in higher education, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has officially severed ties with Israel's Ben-Gurion University (BGU). This was after UJ's Senate found there to be "significant evidence that BGU has research and other engagements that support the military and armed forces of Israel, in particular in its occupation of Gaza."

UJ is the first institution to officially sever relations with an Israeli university - a landmark moment in the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) of Israel campaign. Throughout the campaign progressive academics and international human right activists have been anticipating this decision. This boycott decision, coming from a South African institution, is of particular significance. It could start a domino boycott effect.

The movement to end ties with BGU began with the advent of the UJ Petition (www.ujpetition.com) - a statement in support of UJ academics and students who were calling on their university to end its apartheid-era relationship with BGU. As the UJ senate met today, over 400 South African academics, including nine Vice-Chancellors and Deputy Vice-Chancellors (highest non-ceremonial university positions), had joined the campaign.

Included in the list of supporters are some of South Africa's leading voices: Professors Neville Alexander, Kader Asmal, Allan Boesak, Breyten Breytenbach, John Dugard, Antjie Krog, Barney Pityana and Sampie Terreblanche. South Africa's popular cartoonist Jonathan "Zapiro" Shapiro, Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu, Bishop Rubin Phillips, former Minister Ronnie Kasrils and leading social activist Zackie Achmat also backed the campaign.

Further, over 100 internationals have lent their support, including several prominent international scholars: Professors Judith Butler, Vijay Prashad, Michael Burawoy, Wendy Brown, Ernesto Laclau, and acclaimed British author, John Berger.

Today UJ has made history by upholding and advancing academic moral integrity. Palestinians, South Africans and the international academic and solidarity community rejoice at this decisive victory in isolating Israeli apartheid and supporting freedom, dignity and justice for the Palestinian people. UJ continues the anti-apartheid movement.


ISSUED BY DASANTHA PILLAY ON BEHALF OF THE UJ PETITION COMMITTEE:

Dasantha Pillay: pillay.dasantha@gmail.com / +27 (0) 84 211 9988
Professor Peter Alexander: palexander@uj.ac.za
Professor Farid Esack: fesack@uj.ac.za / (0) 83 459 9989
Salim Vally: svally@gmail.com / (0)82 802 5936

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