Oxford University punishes professor who refused with Israeli student

Oxford university had suspended work for two months of a professor who refused to work with an Israeli graduate because of the way the Palestinians are treated by Israel.

In a statement, the university considered work suspension of Andrew Wilkie (Nuffield Professor of Pathology), for two months without salary confirms saying "The decision follows an investigation by the Board of matters surrounding an email which Professor Wilkie sent in response to an enquiry from an Israeli student regarding the possibility of graduate study in his research group. The Board has made other recommendations, including that Professor Wilkie is required to undergo further equal opportunities training."

Oxford said "Professor Andrew Wilkie was appointed Nuffield Professor of Pathology in May 2003. Professor Wilkie has been instrumental in developing the Oxford Craniofacial Unit into a world-class centre for genetic research into craniofacial disorders and hopes to develop this approach to cover other facets of plastic surgery."

In June, Wilkie refused a request proposed by the student graduate of Tel Aviv University Amit Duvshani to work in his laboratory. In his message via E-mail replying to the request, the university student said the professor "has a big problem " concerning Israel. He said the professor does not have a problem with the student at the personal level, but he cannot work with any person who had served in the Israeli army.