We
are writing to thank you for you standing firm in your support for the
principle of academic freedom and your continued support for the conference
planned at York University: " Israel/Palestine: Mapping Models of
Statehood and Paths to Peace."
The
pressures applied by B'naiB'rith
on Mr. Gary Goodyear, Minister of state for Science and Technology, to oppose
this conference, are in violation of all principles of academic freedom that
we, in canada,
claim to uphold. B'naiB'rith
and similar groups make the baseless claim that any criticism of the brutal
Israeli policies and practices against the Palestinian people, under illegal
occupation, is equated with anti-Semitism. This claim is baseless and is
opposed by many distinguished Jewish intellectuals and Israeli human rights
groups, like B'Tselem and others.
It
is important for all of us to stand by the principles of justice and human
rights.
Thank
you again for your continued principled stand.