IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 318 

Condemning resolutions or policies calling for or instituting a boycott of 

Israeli academic institutions or scholars by institutions of higher learning 

and scholarly associations. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 16, 2015 

Mr. CURBELO of Florida (for himself, Ms. BONAMICI, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. 

BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. LAMBORN, and Mr. HIGGINS) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Education and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Condemning resolutions or policies calling for or instituting 

a boycott of Israeli academic institutions or scholars 

by institutions of higher learning and scholarly associations. 

Whereas the United States and the State of Israel enjoy an 

affinity and a strategic partnership based on shared 

democratic values, friendship, and respect; 

Whereas the President signed the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, declaring Israel to be a Major 

Strategic Partner of the United States; 

Whereas Israel’s institutions of higher education have played 

a crucial role in the significant global contributions made 

by the Jewish state in the fields of science, medicine, and 


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technology, as well as safeguarded principles of academic 

freedom in providing a forum for the presentation and 

debate of political and philosophical ideas, including discourse that both supports and opposes the policies of 

Israel’s Government; 

Whereas academic exchanges between Israeli institutions of 

higher education and institutions of higher education in 

the United States and around the world redound to the 

greater benefit of those institutions and the societies of 

which they are a part through exchange of ideas, sharing 

of expertise, and providing exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences; 

Whereas the BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) movement 

unfairly and misleadingly singles Israel out for criticism 

and economic pressure, and disregards the moral and 

legal responsibility of other parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; 

Whereas the BDS movement seeks to draw institutions of 

higher learning and scholarly associations into its damaging ambit by pressing for adoption by such institutions 

and associations of resolutions or policies that formally 

call for or establish the restriction of discourse, cooperation, exchange, or any other involvement with Israeli academic institutions and scholars; 

Whereas resolutions or policies that would limit the freedom 

to teach, do research in, or otherwise cooperate with academic institutions or scholars from particular countries 

or regions are themselves contrary to principles of academic freedom; and 

Whereas the particular calls directed at boycott of Israeli academic institutions and scholars are part of a campaign 


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that hinders the possibility of achieving a fair and just 

solution and a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and applies a double-standard to Israel by 

singling Israel out for boycott while ignoring the myriad 

of nation-states whose human rights records fall well 

short of Israel’s: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) condemns as contrary to principles of aca3 demic freedom the adoption by any institution of 

4 higher education or scholarly association of a resolu5 tion or policy that formally calls for or establishes 

6 the restriction of discourse, cooperation, exchange, 

7 or any other involvement with academic institutions 

8 or scholars on the basis of the connection of such in9 stitutions or such scholars to the State of Israel; 

10 (2) condemns any such resolution or policy by 

11 any institution of higher education or scholarly asso12 ciation as part of a campaign to hinder the possi13 bility of achieving a fair and just solution and a 

14 peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian con15 flict; 

16 (3) praises the university presidents and insti17 tutions that have opposed academic boycott and 

18 have shown dedication to the free and open exchange 

19 of ideas; and 

20 (4) encourages institutions of higher education, 

21 both in the United States and abroad, to enhance 


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1 and accelerate their engagement in academic ex2 changes with counterpart Israeli institutions, includ3 ing through missions, exchanges of visiting profes4 sors, and joint research, and educational programs. 

Æ 


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