In this brilliant article written in 2003, Ellen Willis considers the the arguments America’s left has deployed in turning from Zionism. She suggests that for her, as a leftist and as a feminist, such arguments ultimately ring hollow.

Is There Still a Jewish Question? Why I’m an Anti-Anti-Zionist

BDS proponents claim only an “institutional boycott” is at stake that will not be directed against individuals. That distinction between institution and individual is untenable, as has been argued elsewhere.

But let’s assume–just for the sake of argument in this post–that one could  have an exclusively “institutional boycott” that somehow s…[Read more]

BDS proponents downplay the likely practical consequences of the boycott. They claim it will only prohibit the institution (e.g. the MLA) from collaborating with Israeli universities and will not impinge on the scholarly life of individuals. Let us leave aside here the ambiguity of individual vs. institution (would the chair of a literature…[Read more]

Check this out.

This Bridge Called My Back
In honor of This Bridge’s 35th anniversary, we invite engagements with its historical impact, attendant contexts, and continuing salience.  Brief CV & 300-word abstracts by 15 March 2015 to Laura Halperin lhalperi@email.unc.edu and Ruby Tapia rtapia@umich.edu.

“Citizenship and Social Death”

Explorations in literature and film of “social death” (Orlando Paterson, Jared Sexton) in relation to issues of citizenship and quality of life for all ethnic groups. 300 word abstract, one page CVs by March 8.

Stephen Knadler (knadlers@spelman.edu) and Amritjit Singh (singha@ohio.edu)

“Archival Legibility an…[Read more]

Those advocating that the MLA boycott Israeli academic institutions are rallying under the banner of “Justice for Palestine.” Everyone in fact should support justice, and not only in Palestine. Agreed? Unfortunately the slogan “Justice for Palestine” is just that, a slogan; it is a vehicle to attack Israel and is only concerned with “justice” when…[Read more]

Do BDS  supporters have anything to say about the burning of pilot Kasabeh? Or will they blame it on Israel?

Pls. spread the word, East Carolina University is hosting a Digital Innovation and Scholarship in the Social Sciences and Humanities Symposium in Greenville, NC, March 18th, 2015. Speakers below, guests welcome, 5-7-minute lightning-round presentations are currently being solicited at our website. Both graduate students and faculty welcome.

MORE…[Read more]

Bassem Eid is the founder of the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group. He has also become a strident critic of the Palestinian Authority–given the threat that the PA poses to human rights. Hence his dismissal of the boycott.

The question in our discussion is whether those who call for “justice in Palestine” are able to see any injustice…[Read more]

The series of votes at the Delegate Assembly at the MLA convention in Vancouver showed some significant weaknesses to BDS and limits to its support. It’s important to look at the results closely and draw some conclusions.

Five votes deserve scrutiny: the initial vote to adopt the Delegate Assembly Organizing Committee (DAOC) two-year moratorium…[Read more]