On Tuesday, The Independent printed a story on its front page reporting a proposed boycott of The Science Museums in Manchester and London as they are holding Israel Science Days this week. You can read the article here.

The days feature lectures and workshops by Israeli scientists on various contemporary scientific issues and discoveries and aim to inspire schoolchildren about science. BRICUP, the Israel-boycott group, campaigned against the events and gathered a number of signatures for a letter calling for the museums to cancel them. This was printed in the press recently and was the focus of the Independent’s article. Both museums held fast and have refused to cancel the events.

In response, the Stop The Boycott Campaign, headed by BICOM and the Jewish Leadership Council organised a letter that is printed in today’s Independent.  This letter was signed by almost 100 signifcant figures in the world of science, including of a number of Fellows of the Royal Society, MP’s, Lords, eminent scientists and over 40 professors.  You can read the letter here.

In addition, The Independent has today run a story detailing the level of support shown towards Israeli Science Days and features comments from Baroness Deech, Baroness Greenfield and Stephen Ladyman MP attacking the proposed boycott. You can read the article here.

Commenting on the matter as joint head of “Stop the Boycott”, Jewish Leadership Council Chief Executive Jeremy Newmark highlights the fact that BRICUP seem to have moved into a new arena after their successive failures to presuade the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) to adopt a boycott Israel policy:

“It is extremely encouraging that so many leading scientists and academics came together so quickly to support Israel Science Day and to oppose a boycott.  The boycotters have failed once again, after failing to convince either their Union and their own universities.  All they have managed to demonstrate is that serious scientists understand the value of education in bringing people together rather than driving them further apart.”

Similar sensible reaction appeared in yesterday’s Times.

There was also an article in yesterday’s Independent by Don Macintyre regarding the Israeli reaction to the proposed boycott.