In response to our request for clarification, Sean Wallis sent us a longer message. He explains his remarks in the excerpt below.

Your report suggests anti-semitic intent on my part in referring to the words “Lehmann Brothers”. I categorically deny this intent.

But this is simply not a plausible neutral interpretation of my remarks.

As you are aware, one of the biggest political events last year, and an issue that is occupying most of our minds as trade unionists was/is the “credit crunch”. In the case of the USA the collapse of the Lehmann Brothers loomed large in all reporting.

An unbiased observer would have clearly understood that my comments were made precisely in the context of the abilities of wealthy individuals having the means to pursue UCU for damages in the courts, and that any democrat worth the name should come to the aid of those who wished to see an unfettered debate in the union.

-----Original Message-----
From: Fair Play Campaign Group
Sent: 02 June 2009 18:35
To: Sean Wallis
Subject: Your message

Dear Mr Wallis,

Thank you for your message posted late yesterday evening as a comment on an article dated the 27th of May on our website.

We do not accept your characterisation of the article but are very keen indeed to understand your position. Accordingly, we would like to reiterate our original offer for you to clarify your remarks about Lehmans made on the 26th of May in Bournemouth, and are happy to publish any such clarification.

Regards,

the Fair Play Campaign Group

BRICUP, the British organisation behind the boycott of Israeli academics, held a fringe meeting at UCU Congress yesterday in Bournemouth.

The official speakers took up most of the time, but there was time for a few questions from the audience. Of course, these ‘questions’ were really statements from the various pro-boycott attendees.

One of these was Sean Wallis, UCL UCU branch secretary. He wanted to speak about how UCU should debate a boycott whether it’s legal or not. One of the threats he mentioned was from lawyers backed by those with “bank balances from Lehman Brothers that can’t be tracked down.”

The remark elicited a few sniggers, though not the outright laughter of an earlier joke by Haim Bresheeth about Israeli friendly fire casualties.

Now, a popular conspiracy theory circulating online claims that Jews transferred $400 billion out of Lehman Brothers to untraceable bank accounts in Israel, a couple of days before Lehman filed for bankruptcy. This lie first appeared on a website run by the Barnes Review, an American ‘revisionist’ organisation with a particular interest in Holocaust denial, and spread on various right-wing anti-Zionist websites.

It is not entirely obvious what Mr Wallis is referring to by claiming that legal threats against UCU are funded by “bank balances from Lehmnn Brothers that can’t be tracked down.” Perhaps he could clarify his remarks.

Update 9th June 2009: Sean Wallis has given his explanation of the remarks, which we have published here.

Despite several years of damage to their reputation and agenda, and repeated evidence that it is unlawful, UCU will once again debate boycotting Israel at its annual Congress. This decision was taken by the National Executive Committee last week. The NEC voted to ban itself from even reading new legal advice on the motions.

See Stop the  Boycott for more information. You can now sign up to the Stop the Boycott email list at the same time as the Fair Play list by ticking the boxes here.

UCU Executive Committee member Jon Pike was at the meeting the decided to discuss boycotting Israel again – read his report at ENGAGE.

• UCU’s initial motions document, for its 2009 annual Congress, was published this week.
• There is no motion calling for an academic boycott of Israel in the draft paper.
• However, several Motions hostile to Israel were submitted by UCU branches for debate at their annual conference.
• The motions are varied; for example the NEC’s motion, while critical of Israel, also condemns “the use of rockets against Israeli civilians”
• Some are much more hostile, calling for an arms embargos, the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador, recognition of Hamas and a ban on settlement goods.
• There are no other motions relating to international issues this year.

Speaking for Stop the Boycott, Jeremy Newmark, CEO of the Jewish Leadership Council, said:

“The absence of a motion on boycotting Israel on UCU’s draft order paper is undoubtedly a sign of progress. We also welcome the National Executive Committee’s more balanced position on Israel, especially as last year the Executive itself proposed a boycott.

However, the draft motions still attack Israel from all directions – this is an ‘anything but boycott’ document that singles out Israel as the only country for condemnation and sanction. UCU members should reject these motions at their Congress.

Stop the Boycott will continue to monitor the situation in the Union, and will work to ensure that such a motion does not appear in the final motions document.”