Some 88 education, civil-rights and religious organizations called on US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday to prevent federal funds from being used by higher-education Middle East Studies programs that support an academic boycott of Israel.
The groups, led by the AMCHA Initiative, cited examples, including a University of Michigan professor who supports boycotting Israel denying to write a letter of recommendation for a student wanting to study at Tel Aviv University; the Pitzer College entire faculty body voting in November to suspend the school's study-abroad program at the University of Haifa; and New York University's Department of Social and Cultural Analysis passing a resolution of non-cooperation in May with the university's school in Israel.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
"It is of particular concern that more than half the directors of currently Title VI-funded Middle East Studies National Resource Centers (NRCs) have pledged support for an academic boycott of Israel or engaged in boycott-compliant behavior, including attempts to shut down their universities' study abroad programs in Israel, as have these centers' affiliated faculty," stated the letter.
Title VI under the Higher Education Act of 1965 provides federal funds for international studies and foreign language centers at US universities.
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
