Israel struggling to scrap US academic boycott

Israel's Association of University Heads (VERA) has urged the American Anthropological Association (AAA) on Monday to backtrack on its decision to support a proposal raised by Palestinian organizations to boycott Israeli universities, asking the academic group not to assist the anti-occupation boycott movement.

"The proposal presents a distorted picture of the reality in Israel," a letter sent by VERA said.

"Last month, the AAA approved a proposal to implement the call of Palestinian organizations to boycott Israeli academic institutes.

The proposal was voted on at a conference in Denver, CO, attended by 1,300 representatives, 30 of whom are Israelis who tried to prevent the proposal's approval.

In the coming months, the proposal will be voted upon by all 12,000 members of the AAA, and if passes by a majority, it will make the AAA the largest organization to adopt an academic boycott of Israel.