THANK THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA AND FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

All Rights Reserved. Reject MESA Boycott ® 2022

The University of Arizona and Florida State University are boldly leading the way among America’s universities in rejecting the Middle East Studies Association’s (MESA) antisemitic threats to boycott Israel.

Over the past several weeks, MESA has demonstrated its utter disregard for inclusivity by relentlessly targeting the sole democracy in the Middle East, a region the group allegedly aspires to educate the next generation about. According to MESA’s leadership, the exclusive goal of the association is to encourage the public to better understand the Middle East through intellectual exchange and academic freedom. 

Unfortunately, the sheer hypocrisy of this statement can be witnessed through MESA’s desire to blacklist America’s closest ally in the region while further alienating Jewish and pro-Israel students and educators from the group’s programs. This motive became crystal clear during the group’s annual meeting in December when more than 90 percent of voting members exposed their aim to boycott Israel.

Additionally, MESA’s intent to end academic exchange programs with Israeli universities does nothing to promote academic freedom and peace within the region. If anything, boycotting Israel’s world-renowned schools will hinder not only Jewish students, but Arabs as well, which include over 54,000 students attending Israeli universities. MESA’s decision will also further block international students from educational opportunities within the most progressive country in the region. 

Join us in commending the University of Arizona and Florida State University for rejecting MESA’s academic intolerance by standing with Israel and supporting both Jewish and pro-Israel students and faculty members on campus.

REJECT MESA BOYCOTT