Elvis Costello, Roger Waters, Brian Eno, Annie Lennox and Mike Leigh constitute important British personalities? Only to the British! Most of us see a bunch of aging musicians of questionable talent and a director of absolutely no talent. They should all get together with Hawking and contemplate the mysteries of the universe. Won't THAT be fun! As for Chomsky -- he's been declared persona non grata for quite some time, hasn't he? What's this -- the petulant child's version of "if I can't go, neither can you?"

Both Chomsky and Hawking can geh in dred.

two question why is he persona non grata? its apolitical term and can be very well understood if some politican with grave faults against another state is declared as such but he is alinguist, a critic, ordinary person, he does have the right to support or criticize, what s missing here?

physicist has hard time navigating the Islamic Universe of Lies. A swell pair they make.

Interesting enough Chomsky's father did not allow Yiddish to be spoken at home only Hebrew! So a good Yiddish word describes him well 'schmuck'

The entire Palestinian nation appreciates your stand with us. You are the model of humanity, fairness, and justice. Thank you.

The name that you were given by your parents was obviously an unfortunate error. As I have suggested to your esteemed friend Prof. Hawking I propose that you also embrace the next session of The Arab league, the world's largest terror group, and grace them with your presence.

For having the guts to stand up to a cruel and oppressive regime. I applaud him and I too chose to boycott Israel.

He is persona non grata because he constantly criticizes the State of Israel. The State of Israel declared him persona non grata quite a while ago. That means that he may not enter the State of Israel. All sovereign states enjoy the right to determine who may and who may not enter. He can support and criticize and stand on his head while dancing a tango to his heart's delight -- no one would dream of denying him the right to express his views. But what does that have to do with the State of Israel denying him entry? Not a thing. He can express his views to his heart's content. He cannot enter the State of Israel. Nothing missing. You're trying to compare apples and onions.

Hawking is definitely not an ordinary person; his actions have consequences; in this case, consequences not good for Israel. Persona non grata, although regrettable, is accurate. Your portrayal of "Palestinians" as those willing to live in peace and harmony, is not.

Postmortem.Amen!

You go right ahead. Boycott whomever you want. And when things in your country become difficult for Jews (don't say it cannot happen; history teaches that it can, particularly during times of economic adversity), I'm sure you'll understand when the State of Israel boycotts you right back. Perhaps an Arab state will take you in. But don't hold your breath.

in the development of all things medical including possible cures for the very ailment that afflicts the clueless misguided miscreant Hawking. You cant invent stupid, only Hawking has just succeeded.

NOBODY needs them !

If you and “Palestinians” would know and practice the “humanity, fairness and justice” of which you speak, there would have been peace years ago. Need I mention Hamas, Hezbollah, the PLO? What fantasy world do you live in?

Chimpski also supported the mass murderer Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. So why are we surprised he supports terrorists?

learned sign language named after him: Nim Chimsky. Although seems Nim had more upstairs than Noam.

too while you're at it, Suleiman?

Good for Hawking, et. al., who protest against the Israel policies of illegally squeezing out all Palestinians from Israel and the West Bank. Not all Israelis agree with Netanyahu and his ilk. By the way, in this article you call Chomsky anti-Israel...he is not. He is for fair treatment of everyone. It is the Israel government who are anti-Palestinian. BTW, again, Israel just bombed Syria...illegally. How long can the US government kowtow to this outrageousness? Forever?

Boycott of Jewish intellectual assets, known for hundreds of years, came to it's peak when Nazi took control of Germany. On 4/1/1933 Hitler ordered a boycott of all Jewish shops, Jewish physicians, lawyers and merchants. Jewish students were forbidden to attend schools and universities. In May 1933, Nazi party decree that any book, “which acts subversively on our future or strikes at the root of German thought...” was to be burnt. Works of philosophers, rationalists, poets, and internationally acclaimed authors were thrown into the flames. Professor Stephen Hawkins joined the forces of darkness who boycott Jews represented by Israel. Visiting Iran endorsed human rights abuse. Iran executed last year (2012) 525 dissidents, gay and lesbians. But Israel is too much for him. Yes, he would have boycotted Albert Einstein, Jack London, Franz Kafka and Emil Zola too. Terrorism in London 7/7/2007 did not enter into his mathematic consciousness. It is Israel, source of all evil and Stephen Hawkins world turned upside down. Chomski is a known anti Semite though born Jewish..

This people who single us out as the Most horrible state in the world are anti-Semites. No silly talk about who's a Semite. These are people who only see evil in Jewish babies when they are born and when they grow up.

Could his hate be originated due to he is denied access to Israel? And now he has no where to go with his emotions for the jewish faith, then he joines and inspire the israel enemies instead, like Goldstone...

He thinks his use of the initials "BDS" is subtle and clever. Someone should tell him that the 187 Nobel Prizes accumulated by Jews -- who constitute 0.2% of the world's population -- is no accident.

...might have seen the light just like Apostle Paul - good luck to him.

Imagine that your neighbor threatens your life, has attacked you in the past, and has just bought an M-16. You call the police, and they do nothing. In fact, they complain about you instead. We are to believe that you would do nothing and just wait for the attack, yes? Well the days of Jews just waiting for the attack are over. Sorry to burst your bubble. (BTW: It's illegal, per UN resolution, to transfer weapons to Hezbollah; something Syria has been doing for years, without a peep out of you.)

I thought he was smarter than that!! so dismaying that the Brits have joined the rest of Europe's anti-semites in boycotting the best country in the world.