BMJ  2007;335:234-235 (4 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.39294.443264.59

Observations

What's on the web

Academic boycott of Israel: follow-up to the BMJ's debate

The BMJ has been overwhelmed with readers' responses to the debate and poll about whether there should be an academic boycott of Israel. Many of the responses criticised the BMJ's decision to run the debate. Editor Fiona Godlee defends the decision. We also print a summary of the poll results by the BMJ's features editor and an edited selection of the rapid responses

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

We expected a strong response to this debate (BMJ 2007;335:124 doi: 10.1136/bmj.39266.495567.AD and 2007:335:125 doi: 10.1136/bmj.39266.509016.AD). Let me try to answer the question some of you have raised about why the BMJ decided to include it as one of its head to head features. The BMJ aims, among other things, to reflect current debates—including political ones—that impinge on the future of health care and health research. The question of whether there should be a boycott of Israeli academic institutions is currently under serious consideration in the United Kingdom. It has been raised by trade unions that represent university academics and health workers, and it has been widely discussed in the UK media. In retrospect I think we could have made this context clearer.

The debate was not initiated by the BMJ, but it has potentially important implications for our readers around the world. Doctors and medical academics . . . [Full text of this article]

Results of the poll

Edited selection of the rapid responses to the poll

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Why one has to be careful of hosting debates like this one.

David M Foreman
bmj.com, 5 Aug 2007 [Full text]

A letter from the Director General of Hadassah Medical Organisation

Shlomo Mor-Yosef
bmj.com, 6 Aug 2007 [Full text]

Relevance?

Michael G Peckitt
bmj.com, 6 Aug 2007 [Full text]

Opening up the boycott Israel debate is vital to exposing and removing the longstanding de-facto boycott of Palestinians

Rita Giacaman
bmj.com, 17 Aug 2007 [Full text]

The boycott and the Israel Lobby

Steven P R Rose
bmj.com, 21 Aug 2007 [Full text]

Proofs, motives and feasibility

Adolfo E Talpalar
bmj.com, 24 Aug 2007 [Full text]