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May 9, 2013

Stephen Hawking Backs Academic Boycott of Israel 
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The prize-winning physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking has become
one of the most high-profile figures so far to join the academic boycott
of Israel. Hawking has dropped out of an international conference
scheduled in Israel next month. In a statement, Hawking said he made the
decision after consulting with Palestinian academics who asked him to
respect the global campaign to boycott Israeli institutions in protest
of violations of Palestinian human rights. Hawking said: "Had I attended
I would have stated my opinion that the policy of the present Israeli
government is likely to lead to disaster."

 

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