Professor Stephen Hawking is supporting the academic boycott of Israel by pulling out of a conference hosted by Israeli president Shimon Peres in Jerusalem as a protest at Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
Hawking, 71, the world-renowned theoretical physicist and Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, had accepted an invitation to headline the fifth annual president's conference, Facing Tomorrow, in June, which features major international personalities, attracts thousands of participants and this year will celebrate Peres's 90th birthday.
But following a closer examination of the activities of the major participants he issued this press release:
"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. Had I attended I would have stated my opinion that the policy of the present Israeli government is likely to lead to disaster."
Professor Hawking's decision marks another victory in the campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions targeting Israeli academic institutions. When academics of his intellectual standing turn away in disgust, the whole world is affected by this action and the scientific community as a whole is awakened.
