BICOM

World renowned physicist Prof Stephen Hawking confirmed yesterday that he has withdrawn his participation in the fifth Presidential Conference in Jerusalem next month, in adherence to calls for an academic boycott of Israel.

Prof Hawking had been scheduled to speak at the conference, which marks the ninetieth birthday of Israel’s President and Nobel Peace Laureate Shimon Peres, and will be attended by other global figures including Bill Clinton, Tony Blair and Mikhail Gorbachev. However, explaining the reasons for his withdrawal, Prof Hawking said in a letter to the conference organisers, “I have received a number of emails from Palestinian academics…They are unanimous that I should respect the boycott. In view of this I must withdraw from the conference.”

Commenting in response, Israel’s Ambassador to the UK, Daniel Taub said “It is a great shame… Rather than caving into pressure from political extremists, active participation in such events is a far more constructive way to promote progress and peace.” Striking a similar tone, chairman of the Presidential Conference, Israel Maimon lamented Hawking’s withdrawal, especially as someone “for whom the spirit of liberty lies at the basis of his human and academic mission.” Maimon emphasised that “Israel is a democracy in which all individuals are free to express their opinions, whatever they may be.” Speaking on BBC Radio Four’s Today programme this morning, BICOM’s Director of Research, Dr Toby Greene said that boycotts are counter-productive towards bringing about a peaceful resolution to the conflict and instead there is a “need to encourage Israelis and Palestinians to talk to each other.”

Prof Hawking has visited Israel on four previous occasions, most recently in 2006 at the invitation of the UK Embassy, during which he addressed scientists at Tel Aviv University.