Israeli academics published a counter-letter in the British Guardian Monday, noting that the slew of artists who pledged to boycott Israel are engaging in academic censorship. 

Dr Sharona Goldenberg and Dr Roy Gilbar of Netanya Academic College began their letter by citing the Harry Potter series of books, in which author J.K. Rowling – who herself publicly stated her support for Israel against the boycott – portrays the evils of academic censorship through the Voldemort regime. 

“Academic bigotry is not confined to fantasy books,” Goldenberg and Gilber began, noting that the 300 UK artists “intend to avoid acting as referees in any process involving Israeli universities, or participate in conferences organized by Israeli institutions.”

“Since it is not institutions that write academic papers or organise conferences, but rather scholars, this is a de facto boycott of Israeli scholars.”

“An academic boycott of Israeli scholars and institutions amounts to inequality based on nationality, rather than merit,” they continued. “It is intended to serve as collective punishment of a group of researchers because of the place where they were born or where they work.”

“It is the same as refusing to rent an apartment to someone who was born in Israel or teaches at an Israeli college,” they added. “It is discrimination against Israeli researchers, breaching their fundamental rights to equality and human dignity.”

“Coupled with the breach of the scholars’ freedom of speech and of academic freedom, this stance represents the opening of a dark silencing age.” 

“In the absence of a mending charm, that will repair the misconceptions regarding the right to equality, to freedom of speech and to human dignity, it is up to us to raise our voices against the silencing age,” the two conclude. 

No less than 343 British university professors signed a letter supporting boycotts against Israel last week, opening a public debate over the issue which garnered a counter-response from 150 pro-freedom British writers, artists and musicians. 

Rowling’s take, in particular, has been subject to public scrutiny, as she called to stop boycotts, but also noted she is against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s current policies on Israel.