Oxford University apologizes for professor's anti-Israel stance

Ha-aretz ^ | Amiram Barkat

[FreeReporting]

Oxford University on Saturday issued a statement apologizing for the behavior of one of its professors, who told an Israeli candidate for an internship that he refused to employ those who have served in the Israel Defense Forces.

Professor Andrew Wilkie from Oxford University's School of Molecular Medicine sent Amit Duvshani, who recently completed his graduate degree in biology at Tel Aviv University, an e-mail, in which he accused Israel of "gross infringements of the Palestinians' human rights,

simply because they want to live in their own land." He added that he is not the only British scientist with similar views.

The university said that "under no circumstances can we tolerate behavior that discriminates - or appears to discriminate - against a person because of his nationality or ethnic background."

[FreeReporting]

Wilkie's email address is awilkie@molbiol.ox.ac.uk.

Perhaps you would like to tell him what you think of his lack of scientific objectivity.

[FreeReporting]

I received the following letter from A.Wilkie, in response to mine.

FYI

I am deeply sorry for this and realise that I took the wrong action. In addition an official apology has been issued by Oxford University and the student's case will be taken forward.

I retract what I said, which was caused by too personal and emotional a response to the terrible situation in Israel.

I hope you can forgive me.

Please pass this message on.

Yours sincerely