A motion calling for an all-out boycott of Israel and endorsing sanctions against the Jewish state has been by the Oxford University Student Union (OUSU). According to the Union of Jewish Students in Britain, the OUSU measure calling for a boycott of Israeli institutions, goods and produce lost by a vote of 69 against 10.
"It's encouraging to see that this vote reflects a student body who are willing to discuss the complexities that exist within Israel and do not see boycotting it as a viable option or avenue to discuss the conflict," Judith Flacks, the Union of Jewish Students' campaign director, said.
The motion had called for “research into higher education institutions’ contacts, relations, investment and commercial relationships that may be implicated in violating Palestinian human rights as stated by the BDS [Boycotts, Sanctions and Divestment] movement.”
Eylon Aslan-Levy, whose Israeli citizenship prompted a walkout by a leftist UK lawmaker last week, said in reaction to the vote: "Tonight, Oxford students showed that their commitment to intellectual freedom is unshakeable. In rejecting calls for a boycott against Israel by a seven-to-one margin, we demonstrated resoundingly that we want Oxford to continue to cooperate with Israeli academics, trade with Israeli businesses and-yes-debate with Israeli debating societies. I hope that other British universities will follow Oxford's lead in standing up against divisive attempts to hinder academic cooperation and progress.'
