The resolution accused Israel of restricting Palestinian academic activities in Gaza and the West Bank.

NEW YORK–The American Jewish Committee praised the American Historical Association for rejecting a resolution against Israel Sunday.

The resolution accused Israel of restricting Palestinian academic activities in Gaza and the West Bank and was rejected by a vote of 111 to 50 at the AHA’s 130th annual meeting in Atlanta.

“AHA members rebuffed the efforts of BDS activists to exploit American academic groups to single out Israel for condemnation,” AJC CEO David Harris said. “Israeli-Palestinian peace can only be achieved in bilateral talks between the parties, not by anti-Israel activists trying to win over scholarly groups in the US.”

The proposal was titled “Protecting the Right to Education in the Occupied Palestinian Territories” and included a list of arguments. A few examples: “Israel restricts the right to lecture or teach at Palestinian universities by denying entry to select foreign nationals, including US citizens,” and “In summer 2014, Israel bombarded fourteen institutions of higher learning in Gaza, partially or completely destroying nine, and its military routinely invades campuses in Jerusalem and the West Bank and frequently impedes entry.”

This is the second year in a row the AHA blocked similar measures. Last year the association declined to put two resolutions which were critical of Israel to a vote. The two motions were not submitted for consideration before a November deadline and supporters at the meeting had demanded normal procedural rules be suspended.

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