Engage (organization)
Encyclopedia
Engage is an organisation which publishes materials in opposition to what they see as left and liberal antisemitism, primarily in UK academic institutions. The group is made up of left-wing
academic who oppose boycott
s of Israel
.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3406627,00.html The organization describes its mission as follows: "Engage challenges left and liberal antisemitism in the labour movement
, in our universities and in public life more generally. Antisemitism here, manifests itself mainly as anti-Zionism
. We are a resource for the monitoring and the critique of left and liberal antisemitism." Engage was originally founded in response to the decision of the Association of University Teachers
to participate in an academic and cultural boycott of Israel
.
The founders of Engage were David Hirsh
, who teaches at Goldsmiths College
at the University of London
, and Jon Pike, who teaches at the Open University
. Hirsh writes about left and liberal antisemitism for the Guardian Unlimited
blog. Well-known supporters include the academic and blogger Norman Geras
.
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
academic who oppose boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
s of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3406627,00.html The organization describes its mission as follows: "Engage challenges left and liberal antisemitism in the labour movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
, in our universities and in public life more generally. Antisemitism here, manifests itself mainly as anti-Zionism
Anti-Zionism
Anti-Zionism is opposition to Zionistic views or opposition to the state of Israel. The term is used to describe various religious, moral and political points of view in opposition to these, but their diversity of motivation and expression is sufficiently different that "anti-Zionism" cannot be...
. We are a resource for the monitoring and the critique of left and liberal antisemitism." Engage was originally founded in response to the decision of the Association of University Teachers
Association of University Teachers
The Association of University Teachers was the trade union and professional association that represented academic and academic-related staff at pre-1992 universities in the United Kingdom...
to participate in an academic and cultural boycott of Israel
Academic boycotts of Israel
Proposals for an academic boycott of Israel have been inspired by the historic academic boycotts of South Africa which were an attempt to pressure South Africa to end its policies of Apartheid....
.
The founders of Engage were David Hirsh
David Hirsh
David Hirsh is a Lecturer in Sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London and the founder of Engage, a campaign against academic boycotts of Israel....
, who teaches at Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom which specialises in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It was founded in 1891 as Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute...
at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, and Jon Pike, who teaches at the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
. Hirsh writes about left and liberal antisemitism for the Guardian Unlimited
Guardian Unlimited
guardian.co.uk, formerly known as Guardian Unlimited, is a British website owned by the Guardian Media Group. Georgina Henry is the editor...
blog. Well-known supporters include the academic and blogger Norman Geras
Norman Geras
Norman Geras is Professor Emeritus of Government at the University of Manchester. In a long academic career, he has contributed substantially to the analysis of the works of Karl Marx, particularly in his book Marx and Human Nature and the article 'The Controversy About Marx and Justice', which...
.
Positions
According to its founding statement, the organization- opposes Israel’s occupation of the West BankWest BankThe West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
and GazaGazaGaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
. Engage is in favour of the foundation of a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel. - opposes the idea of an academic or cultural boycott of IsraelAcademic boycotts of IsraelProposals for an academic boycott of Israel have been inspired by the historic academic boycotts of South Africa which were an attempt to pressure South Africa to end its policies of Apartheid....
. - aims to encourage, facilitate and publicise positive links between Israeli, Palestinian, British and global academia.
- stands up against antisemitism in universities, in unions and in students unions. In Engages opinion, opposing the sometimes brutal actions of the Israeli government and army is not antisemitic, but sometimes anti-Zionism is antisemitic.