Madam, - I was saddened to read a renewed call for a boycott on collaboration with Israeli academics and Israeli academic institutions in Cathal Kerrigan's letter of October 17th.
Unlike many of my academic colleagues, I have first-hand experience as an Army officer on UN service of being shelled, mortared and shot at by the Israeli Defence Forces in the Middle East. I have also witnessed the indiscriminate bombardment and slaughter of Lebanese civilians by Israeli forces in Lebanon.
Despite these experiences - in fact, precisely because of these experiences - I am convinced that we need to engage in dialogue with Israeli citizens at every available opportunity to get them to reflect critically on Israeli foreign and domestic security policies. External pressure from international organisations such as the UN to effect changes in these policies has had little effect.
Internal pressure from an informed and reflective Israeli citizenry might have a better chance of modifying Israel's ill-conceived and ill-advised policies towards their neighbours in the Middle East.
Israeli academics, like their counterparts throughout Europe, play an important leadership role in questioning current government policies and shaping future solutions for peace in the Middle East. They can only continue to do so in dialogue with the international academic community.
To boycott Israeli academics would only further isolate and radicalise the Israeli state. It would also punish precisely those Israeli citizens who are most opposed to Israel's security policies and best placed to influence positive change within Israel.
Unlike those of my fellow academics who would advocate such a boycott, I have seen for myself that when the talking stops, the killing usually intensifies. - Yours, etc,
Dr TOM CLONAN (Capt, Retired), School of Media, DIT, Aungier Street, Dublin 2.