The opposition has been hot, as expected. At the same time, the move didn’t draw the same sectorwide condemnation as a similar resolution by another academic association passed a decade ago.
"By passing this resolution to blacklist and boycott Israeli institutions of higher learning, the membership of MESA has abandoned any pretext of being an academic association in favor of an organization with a singular political cause: to delegitimize Israel," said ASMEA Academic Council Chairman Prof. Norman (Noam) Stillman.
Brandeis University announced on March 24 that they are disassociating themselves from the Middle East Studies Association (MESA) after the organization overwhelmingly voted in favor of a resolution endorsing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.