Ontario Canada union wants ban on Israeli academics

A proposed resolution by a major Ontario union to ban Israeli academics at
the province's universities has sparked a bitter debate between leaders on
both sides over an Israeli attack on a Gaza university.

The Ontario arm of the Canadian Union of Public Employees announced
yesterday it would propose, in a meeting next month, "a ban on Israeli
academics doing speaking, teaching or research work at Ontario
universities," if they do not explicitly condemn Israeli action in Gaza.The proposal comes specifically after a Dec. 29 attack on an Islamic
university in Gaza.

CUPE Ontario, which has about 20,000 members in Ontario's universities, in
2006 passed a notorious resolution supporting boycotts of Israeli goods,
sparking a firestorm of debate.

Mr. Ryan said of CUPE's latest proposal: " I will admit already I've gotten
a whole host of angry voicemails. ... I've been threatened before, so bring
it on."

He said the move wouldn't apply to Israeli-born Canadian academics, but only
visiting scholars.