1 October 2007

The Anglo-Jewish Association welcomes the University and College Union’s (UCU) decision not to pursue a boycott of Israeli academics.

AJA President Michael Hilsenrath said, “Whilst it is regrettable that a tiny minority of UCU members tried to implement this perverse policy, we are delighted that common sense has prevailed. We were also greatly heartened by the strong condemnatory response to the proposed boycott from many organisations both within and outside the academic community. UCU’s focus should be on pursuing academic excellence and working towards achieving an inclusive and pluralist society, not wasting time on retrograde policies.”

Notes to Editors:

The AJA was founded in 1871 and provides financial support to Jewish students attending University and higher education in Great Britain.

The AJA is one of the largest grant making organisations directly supporting Jewish students in the UK, dispersing in the order of £100,000 annually.

The AJA is represented on the board of the Claims Conference and the Memorial Foundation.