Lawrence Summers, the man who was too honest and courageous for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences leftists and the pusillanimous members of the Harvard Corporation, is still the president of Harvard University, though not for long. He has used his remaining tenure in office to denounce the repulsive boycott of Israeli scholars launched by the trade union for professors, the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE).

President Summers had previously denounced other boycott efforts for their use of double standards, ignoring obvious rigfhts violaters throughout the Arab world and elsewhere, and instead focusing on Isarel, whose human rights record is by far the best in the Middle East. Earlier he allowed that the efforts were anti—Semitic in effect, "if not in intent." In the case of the British union, he affirms that the intent, too, is anti—Semitic.

...there is much that should be, indeed that must be, debated regarding Israeli policy...But the academic boycott resolution passed by the British professors union in the way that it singles out Israel is in my judgment anti—Semitic in both effect and in intent.'

Congratulations to him for his honesty, a commodity which seems to be in rather short supply in Camrbidge, Mass these days. Despite three sheepskins from Harvard on my wall, I will never donate another cent.

Hat tip: Ed Lasky

Thomas Lifson   6 6 06