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Rapid Responses: Rapid Responses published:
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Why one has to be careful of hosting debates like this one.
- David M Foreman (5 August 2007)
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A letter from the Director General of Hadassah Medical Organisation
- Shlomo Mor-Yosef (6 August 2007)
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Relevance?
- Michael G Peckitt (6 August 2007)
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Opening up the boycott Israel debate is vital to exposing and removing the longstanding de-facto boycott of Palestinians
- Rita Giacaman (17 August 2007)
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The boycott and the Israel Lobby
- Steven P R Rose (21 August 2007)
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Proofs, motives and feasibility
- Adolfo E Talpalar (24 August 2007)
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David M Foreman, Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer Isle of Man and Institute of Psychiatry
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I am one of those who think that the BMJ is not the correct forum for hosting debates like this. The Trade Union resolutions that have triggered this debate in the UK reflect a campaign by the Socialist Worker's Party (SWP), whose stance includes the denial of Israel's right to exist. An initial goal for all extreme parties is to move their issue(s) into the mainstream of debate, so it may be taken seriously, and become more influential. Such parties often focus on a tight 'single issue' agenda, in the reasonable expectation that at least some of their audience, who have no sympathy with their overall viewpoint, will follow their argument further, hopefully to the conclusion they desire. The BMJ is a scholarly journal, with an enviable reputation for authoritative comment on major medical and academic issues. Unlike even the 'quality' political press, who are expected to express a political bias, the BMJ asserts scientific credibility and neutrality, and the reliable identification of the major medical issues of the day. Irrespective of its expressed views, the BMJ has declared by hosting the topic, that a boycott of Israel on moral grounds is an important subject for doctors to discuss, but its remit does not allow it to provide doctors with the all- important political motivation for the debate. The Socialist Worker's Party will be very pleased, irrespective of the outcome of the survey or any academic boycott. Competing interests: None declared |
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Shlomo Mor-Yosef, Director General HMO Jerusalem 91120 , Israel,
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Dear Sir/Madam The Hadassah Medical Organisation is an academic centre that consists of two hospitals and five academic medical schools in Jerusalem, Israel. A world-class university medical institution, it has achieved a global reputation for excellence in healing, teaching and research. It is also a centre of goodwill where the benefits of medicine transcend politics, religion and national politics. We consider it our mission to serve as a bridge to peace by forging links between peoples of all nationalities, races and religion who come to its doors for healing. In 2005 we were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize because of our work. We did not let politics into our premises when we saved lives of Palestinian suicide bombers who were injured while assassinating hundreds of Israelis during the recent Intifada. We do not let politics into our premises when we save lives of Palestinian babies with severe heart defects. We ignore political aspects when we conduct dozens of collaborative research and clinical projects with Palestinian physicians in a variety of medical and health areas. You will find below few examples of our cooperative work with the Palestinians which goes back to many years. Many programs were developed, providing training for the Palestinian physicians, nurses, midwives and health professionals in the West Bank and Gaza, with the aim of helping them establish their own capabilities. We firmly believe that this is our mission and duty. To focus on contributing to our societies what we know to do best, instead of making political statements. A decision to boycott Israeli academic institution will include Hadassah. It will include Palestinian physicians, nurses, social workers and other health professionals who work at Hadassah and consider it their hospitals. It will boycott the small but real steps we make here together everyday towards fulfilling our wish to have peace in our region. Yours faithfully, Professor Shlomo Mor-Yosef, M.D; M.P.A.
1. Advanced Resuscitation Training: This course takes place within a three-year – two-week Summer School education and social program for select 14-18 year-old Jordanians, Israelis, Palestinians and students from other countries in the Middle East. The study gatherings take place at different locations in the region. The last gathering took place in Acre, Israel and the next one will take place in Turkey. The program which is carried out in English, includes participation in a two weeks Summer School – in each of the three years – where students learn from some of the world’s leading cardiologists and educators. 2. The Hadassah - Augusta Victoria Hospital Exchange Program: The Augusta Victoria Hospital is in the process of developing a Cancer Center to serve patients from the West Bank and Gaza. This Center will initially include basic Radiation and Chemotherapy services. The Hadassah Hospital has committed itself to train staff and provide physicist expertise to assure appropriate quality oncology services at the Augusta Victoria Hospital. Furthermore, Hadassah will provide treatment of complex patients that exceed the capabilities of the Augusta Victoria Hospital cancer program at the Hadassah Medical Organization Department of Oncology. With this cooperation, both medical institutions saw in it an opportunity to create mutual understanding while developing a much needed Cancer Program that will serve the Palestinian population of the West Bank and Gaza. 3. The Hadassah-St. John Eye Hospital human resources development program in Ophthalmology: This project, dedicated to exchanging ophthalmic knowledge and resources between Palestinian and Israeli hospitals, represents a unique attempt to raise the standard of care in both communities while simultaneously harnessing medicine in the service of peace. It incorporates joint specialists clinics at St. John Hospital, a combined residency program at St. John Eye Hospital and the Hadassah Department of Ophthalmology and joint specialist clinics at Hadassah for St. John referred patients. 4. The Walter D. Cohen Middle East Centre for Dental Studies – Hadassah and Al-Quds University A six week course for dentists from Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and other countries in the Middle East was established in 1998 with the participation of 2 Palestinians, 2 dentists from Jordan, 2 from Turkey, 2 from Cyprus. Last year the course was intensified and squeezed into 2 weeks according to the request of the participants. 11 participants participated last year. This year the course was held for 6 students, but another course is contemplated for August, i.e. two courses in one year. The course takes place at the Hadassah-Hebrew University Dental School. 5. Specialist Graduate Training: The upgrading and independent operation of medical services for Palestinian communities is to a considerable extent the result of specialist training programs arranged by Hadassah for doctors from these areas. Physicians concluding a two-year full-time specialist training on stipends earmarked for this purpose by a Hadassah donor receive a diploma allowing them to provide medical care in their home towns and villages. This program was initiated in 1987. Physicians often return even after their training to participate in weekly meetings, receive medical advice when necessary. Surgeons continue operating at Hadassah from time to time. About 5-7 physicians from the West Bank participate in this program. All in all about 30 physicians have taken part in this program. The further training of these doctors at Hadassah has made a major contribution to the advance of medicine in the West Bank and Gaza and to the development of medical specialties which were not available there before, such as Dermatology, Endocrinology, Hematology, Radiology, Anesthesiology and Neurosurgery. A doctor who specialized in neurosurgery at Hadassah is now the head of Neurosurgery at Beit Jallah Hospital and a doctor who specialized in neurology is now the most prominent neurologist in the entire West Bank and is also on the staff of the Beit Jallah hospital (next to Bethlehem). 6. Master of Public Health Course: Each year physicians, nurses and health administrators from the Palestinian Authority participate in a full time course organized by the Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine at Hadassah. The successful graduates receive an MPH degree. 7. The Trauma Course: The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) have been working together to improve trauma care in the region. The major joint activity has been two Trauma Courses, organized and presented by Hadassah. The objectives of the course are: to improve trauma care in the region; to improve communication between the PRCS workers and the staff of the Hadassah Trauma Unit and to promote cooperation in their joint work by knowing each other as persons. The trauma courses were given in Arabic and English – the first of which was attended by 18 people from the West Bank; the second was attended by 23 people from Gaza and the West Bank. The courses included 3 weeks of lectures, demonstrations land on-site visits and one week of experience in related clinical areas including the operating room, the emergency room, the trauma unit, orthopedics, neuro-surgery, the recovery room, respiratory intensive care unit and the pediatric intensive care unit. The course, originally designed for nurses, paramedics and ambulance drivers was extended to cater for physicians. Further plans are being made for a specifically designed course for physicians. Competing interests: Director General of Hadassah Medical Organisation, Jerusalem, Israel see as stated in letter attached |
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Michael G Peckitt, PhD Student HU6 7RX
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I find the academic boycott of Israel confusing. Why single out their possible/actual boycotting out in the press. I am not a trade union expert but I would like to know if we boycotted Serbian academics just prior to WWI. How is the job of a Trade Union to be an enactor of 'foreign policy'. Surely wages and work conditions should be their main concern? Competing interests: None declared |
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Rita Giacaman, Professor Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, Occupied Palestinian Territory
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I would like to thank you for publishing your excellent viewpoint regarding the Academic boycott of Israel in the August 4 2007 BMJ issue: "Academic boycott of Israel: follow- up to the BMJ's debate", BMJ 2007;335:234-235. Indeed, it is initiating a process where boycott is debated that we, Palestinian academics and health professionals living under Israeli military occupation, aspire to. The subject of grave Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights, including the right to health, has for long been presented from the perspective of unconditional support of Israel no matter what, and to the exclusion of a deeper understanding of what is truly happening in Palestine-Israel, and the Palestinian point of view. Is this not a de-facto boycott of Palestinians? Why is it that when Palestinians are boycotted, and for so long, no one seems to complain? Could it perhaps be that the prevailing assumption is that Palestinians are not equal to Israelis - with the principle of equality at the heart of medical and public health work? Are we subhuman, not deserving equal treatment and equal time to explain our situation and present the arguments that led us to believe that Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions are the only means left to non- violently resist Israeli occupation of Palestinian land? Are we to stand silently in the face of the destruction of our economy, institutions, control of land and other resources and the violations of our most basic rights? What other options do we have to resist severe violation, address low life quality and ill health, given that we have tried everything else, and nothing has worked? Opening up the debate on boycotting Israel in the BMJ is a vital step in the process of removing the de-facto boycott against Palestinians, so crucial to bringing the voice of Palestinians out of confinement and isolation, and out of the realm of un-reason, to your readers, and to the world. This is why we hope that the debate that you have opened will continue in your journal and beyond. In appreciation Rita Giacaman Competing interests: I am a Palestinian public health academic enduring the agony of Israeli military rule of Palestinian land. |
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Steven P R Rose, Emeritus Professor of biology The Open University Milton Keynes MK76AA, UK
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I would like to join with Dr Giacaman in congratulating you on your forthright editorial. I was struck by your comment that it is those who most strongly oppose the proposed boycott of Israeli academic institutions who most vociferously attempt to close down debate. Boycott supporters have become wearily used to the torrent of email abuse, often obscene, from the well- organised and well-financed Israel lobby. It is - how shall I put it most delicately - less than agreeable or conducive to reasoned discussion - to be called a 'self-hating Jew,' or an anti-semite, or even told that 'you should have been Auschwitzed,' for documenting Israeli academia's complicity in the illegal acts of the Israeli State. It would be nice to think that the anti - boycotters were as vociferous in opposing the US government's boycotts (with Israel's support) of Cuban, Iranian or even Iraqi academics. For that matter, where were their voices in protesting about the 40 year curtailment of Palestinian academic freedom, of students, researchers and teachers, so graohically described by Dr Giacaman. I would hope that one result of the BMJ courageous insistence on the importance of debate would be to open up your pages to those otherwise silenced voices. Competing interests: Secretary, British Committee for the Universities of Palestine |
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Adolfo E Talpalar, Researcher Dept. Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute
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I personally support publication and debate of a proposed boycott of Israeli academic institutions. These decisions should not be kept to minor or secret groups. The publication was particularly interesting because BMJ has proposed neither the boycott nor its debate that existed long time before. BMJ just allowed the general public to participate with their opinion. In fact, the poll demonstrated that, whatever the reasons, most of BMJ readers clearly opposed to the boycott. Many of us were pleased to participate and to express our views and rationale for our votes. We have to admit that, as expected, the parties were a bit politicized. Positive feedback of this debate was a Jewish counterattack ‘why not debate Sharia law and its medical implications’ involving death penalty, punitive mutilation, etc. This, in my opinion is a valid point, particularly, if the argument for the boycott was ‘human rights violations’. This settles the logical question: whose human rights violations deserve debate by the medical audience? Then, we understand the very political nature of the original idea of boycott. Nobody is judging Israeli academic institutions for supporting a mutilation like circumcision, a pure medical subject for a medical debate. But we are supposed to decide in a political matter, which is beyond our area of expertise! I think we should be clever enough to set the limits of our skills: Our opinion in such matters is that of laymen. I understand and sympathize with the points of professor Giacaman, who obviously suffers the political effects of the state of war between Israel and Palestine. But I also sympathize with the many Israeli doctors that are victims of Palestinian bombs and attacks. I don’t think that weird ideas, supported by no express evidences, like those proposed by professor Steven Rose, involving complots, secret services paid to harass emails of boycotters, etc do much to our scientific clarification of causes and effects in this debate. Competing interests: None declared |
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