'These boycotts are demoralizing us, silencing us,' Israeli academic tells 'Post' - interview

Dr. Ofek Riemer, an assistant professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, expressed his frustration with academic boycotts, stating they are "defunding us, demoralizing us, silencing us." He believes academics are a crucial bastion of independent thought in Israel.

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We, as academics, are kind of the last bastion of independent critical thinking in Israel, and these boycotts are defunding us, demoralizing us, silencing us.

Riemer shared his experience of being rejected from an academic conference, initially citing a mismatch with the theme. However, he later learned the rejection stemmed from the conference sponsor's policy regarding cooperation with Israeli universities. Although the organizers acknowledged this as a mistake and re-invited him, he was subsequently informed that his participation could not be accommodated in person due to security concerns.

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They picked up on me, and they published this open letter to the president of the university with a very detailed resume of what I did. My involvement with Israeli intelligence and so on. But my hosts were very resolved on hosting me.

Reflecting on similar incidents, Riemer noted that academic institutions are often hesitant to host Israeli scholars to avoid potential backlash. He described how protesters in Germany had targeted him, publishing detailed information about his background. He understands the "headache" for hosts and organizers who may opt to avoid inviting Israelis to prevent disruptions, protests, or security risks. Riemer also recalled a workshop cancellation at Leiden University due to colleagues questioning institutional versus individual cooperation.

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So, if you can have an American scholar write the chapter on Israeli intelligence, and not invite them to a workshop or a conference when writing a book together, then it’s less of a headache. Just to not get in trouble, not with students, not with faculty, colleagues, protest movements, security risks, and so on. Avoid stones being thrown at the classroom, and conference panels being disrupted by protesters - you just don’t invite the Israelis.

He characterized this trend as a "silent boycott," where invitations are withheld and talks are canceled under the guise of bureaucratic reasons like security concerns. However, some associations have been more direct in their rejections, such as the Institute for European Intelligence & Security (IEIS).

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Invitations not being extended, talks being canceled, allegedly for some kind of a bureaucratic reason like security concerns.