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Irish teachers say boycott move is a ‘back-handed compliment’

April 11, 2013 15:15

ByMarcus Dysch, Marcus Dysch

1 min read

The academic boycott of Israel imposed by the Teachers Union of Ireland is a “backhanded compliment”, the union’s general secretary has claimed.

John MacGabhann said the TUI “expected more” of Israel than it did of other countries and felt a “sense of disappointment” in the actions of successive Israeli governments.

“To a very significant degree, our union and members expect more of the Israeli government, precisely because we would anticipate that Israeli governments would act in all instances and ways to better uphold the rights of others,” he said.

The TUI’s annual conference in Galway voted last week to boycott all academic collaboration with Israel, including research programmes and exchange of scientists. It is believed to be the first full academic boycott enforced by a European teaching union.