Toronto (December 14, 2018) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is pleased to learn that chancellors from the University of California recently issued a statement condemning the academic boycott of Israel and encourages Canadian universities to follow suit.

The University of California was the first to issue such a statement in response to a letter signed by 101 organizations, including Simon Wiesenthal Center, and sent to 250 college presidents and chancellors. The letter expressed concern about the harmful impact of the academic boycott of Israel on US students and faculty and urged universities to sign the letter or issue their own statement.

“The academic boycott of Israel should not only be condemned by universities in the US, but by academic institutions around the world – including Canada,” said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo. “Similar incidents of university faculty supporting the BDS movement have taken place here at home, including a Ryerson University student being refused placements at Jewish organizations because of their pro-Israel views. If university leaders take a stand against BDS, other faculty members will follow suit.”