Wesam Madhoun, a Palestinian from Gaza, was delighted to learn that he had been granted an interview at Tel Aviv University to begin a doctorate in environmental science this autumn.
But an Israeli army ban barring Gazan students from travelling to Israeli universities will prevent him from studying there. “I built my entire future on this dream, now it is gone,” said Mr Madhoun, 28, who lives in Gaza City.
His dilemma is becoming increasingly common for Palestinians, who are barred from travelling in Israel.
“The ban demonises Palestinian students and violates their right to access education,” said Sari Bashi, director of Gisha, an Israeli human rights group, which petitioned the High Court in Israel on Mr Madhoun’s behalf. But last week, the court ruled that there are valid security reasons to keep Gazans out of the country.
The decision has left Mr Madhoun at a loss. “In Israel, people are angry over the British demand for an academic boycott, but Israel itself is academically boycotting Palestinians,” he said.
However, Mr Madhoun says that any boycott designed to punish Israeli academic institutions will target the wrong people. “The school is as frustrated as I am. Israel is at fault, not its universities,” he said.
by Sonia Verma