Should professors refuse to write letters of recommendation addressed to Israeli universities? One has just been punished for refusing.

Like Juan Cole, I support the boycott of products made by Israel in occupied Palestinian territory — started by Gush Shalom, which promoted it until Israel adopted a law to impose unlimited damages on anyone that advocates this boycott. I don't support the Palestinians' boycott of nearly all Israeli institutions, though I followed it in the speaking tour in which I was invited by Palestinians.

Palestinians point out that each university in Israel is directly involved in the occupation.