When will you all realize that NO-ONE cares about THE FACTS. They care about their own hides, it is much more convenient to go against Israel that to stand beside Israel. Someone in his position needs public approval, that's all he's thinking about. Not facts . . . .

This is a straw man argument from start to finish. You are suggesting that Stephen read nothing about the situation before making his decision. How ridiculous.

I am against the boycott of Israel for many reasons, but there is one thing Norman Finkelstein (who I also disagree with on almost everything) said that convinced me that this line of argumentation is stupid. He said something like - imagine going up to the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto and saying "hey, but look how great Volkswagon is". Even if you disagree with the analogy, the "Israel is so great technologically" says absolutely nothing about our extreme moral failings due to the occupation and the day to day misery we bring to the Palestinians (and ourselves). Yes, we are a technological powerhouse. Yes, the occupation is morally corrupt. We are being boycotted (by most, though not all) because of the occupation. Deal with the problem rather than trying to change the subject.

by jews. there is a synagoug that was built in 1878.

Another vague statement and myth, you're a 'technological powerhouse' only as long as someone asks you to provide some examples of your inventions ,... Mr. Noga Gur-Arieh have said that Mr. Hawking 'uses Israeli technology to communicate' and got caught, it's not Israeli technology or patent but for someone that won't bother to check and confirm it especially for brain washed Israeli it sounds good and makes him/her feel good even if it's a myth ,...

Israel's control of Palestinian lives stinks and I wish it would end tomorrow, with an Independent Palestinians state. But you know as I do that your extremists (assuming you are not one of them) are just waiting to fire rockets at us form newly "liberated" land. As a result ending your unacceptable situation is very complicated, and will not end any time soon. That said, talking about apartheid and ethnic cleansing is bullshit as you well know, espcially within Israel, but also in the West BanK, and therefore boycotters are basing their decisions on nonsense, and exacerbating the situation by discouraging communication beween the two sides.

P. Hawking is on a wheelchair, and struggles to cope with his daily life. Probably the HQ of his funds are arabs, and they were not too happy with the idea of him going to Israel. What would you do if you were in his shoes? It is quite easy to judge and point our fingers against his decisions, but sometimes you don't really consider "truth" or "morals" but just what is necessary to survive the next few days, or hours.

Is it really necessary to remind you that you people rejected an opportunity to have your own state on no fewer than three occasions? You have preferred to go to war -- which you have done on six occasions -- and lost all six. Too bad. You are responsible for your situation. Israel owes you absolutely nothing. We did, after all, win all the wars. That's how it works. Of course, eventually we will have no recourse but to annex Judea and Samaria. On that great day, you will find yourself repatriated to Jordan. Good riddance. You've been lousy neighbors.

Well that tiny speck is pretty big in the end isn't it, I guess Canada is in there too someplace, but don't worry I won't be coming for a visit, I don't like waiting at check points anymore than the average human.

at the idea of boycott and sanctions. I tell you that a page has been turned. The BDS movement is growing. Israel will face increasing scorn and isolation if it doesn't give the Palestinian people a contiguous country of their own or equal rights and opportunities in a multi-ethnic secular state.

why is he only using Israeli inventions and technical gear? Why did he not start a "palestinian" research institute in Ramallah to give education to the people there? He could have drawn many scientists there, if he had bothered to learn Google, but - seems he missed something there. his creatitivy is not at top, sorry, and seeing he does not check his sources, who can believe in his research? He will be remembered as a boycotter, not as a scientist.

I think there are many people in Israel and around the world on the BDS side who would be happy to take up Ms. Gur-Arieh's offer. As soon as the Israeli government is interested in granting open, unhinhibited access to those facts, and in openly discussing said facts without throwing a tantrum or resorting to outdated generalizations and trying to change the subject, please do have the courtesy to let the protesters know.

You need to understand that Hawking is a highly educated and respected scientist, and as far as anyone is aware, he wasn't brought up in any insular brainwashing cults on the side. The traditional powers of Stupid don't usually work on these sorts of modern, forward-thinking people. If you want to go around telling people who've accomplished more for humanity in a year with their pinky fingers than you'll accomplish in your whole life, that there's this angry dude in the sky named God and he made you executive CEO, then you'd better come up with some solid physical proof to differentiate yourself from all the other nuts.

Nowhere in the tenets of the movement does it say anything about hating anyone. Stephen Hawking and others have never espoused or supported Anti-Semitism. All of the apologists for the current right wing policies of Israel jump in to accuse people of hatred and bias in feeble attempts to discredit them because admitting nonviolent protest is legitimate lends some credibility to those who use it. The current Israeli government and its supporters are desperate to see only their point of view expressed or supported.

Any honest BDS-er will immediately give up his/her cellphone. email, text msg device, ipad, ipod, or android device, and will never undergo or let any family member have a CAT scan. All of these devices and many more are all made with Israeli technology. PUT YOUR CONVENIENCE WHERE YOUR PRINCIPLES ARE. The hypocrites. Liars. Antisemites, cowards, and fakers will never do it.

though since I am fully against its motivation I just boycott the boycotters. Just let them get on with it and do without. I can quite happily live without dates and olives; I am not so keen on buying their oil products and I certainly won't be buying anything to do with their protelysing religion and islamic states.

Yay, good to know you wont be coming to Israel on a visit. Stay home in your tiny mud hut.

If they wouldn't have started numerous wars then the Israelis wouldn't be on land not originally part of the 1948 establishment of Israel. Secondly, between and in the midst of these wars the Israelis have continued to create, build, invent, innovate. And their enemies? Nothing. Even the countries of the Arabian Peninsula- if they didn't have the oil, what would they have? Nothing. They (Palestinians, etc) keep all this conflict up as a means to justify and explain their lack of initiative. Blame the Israelis and blame the Jews for your situation...how embarrassed you would be if you were honest enough to face yourselves in the mirror. Good article.

Of course the writer is correct - that the intellectuals who are joining the boycott of Israel are uninformed as prey to "easy heroism." And it's true that the boycott is spreading like fire through a hayfield. But it's false to think that the answer is providing a list of all the great achievements of the Start-Up Nation, even the innovations that make it a better world. I'm a rabbi and often a speaker on behlaf of Israel, defending Israel against the raging BDS movement that threatens her place in the community of nations and even Israel's futute existence. It is a very real threat, which is sgtarting to encroach upon "America's Unflinching Support" for thed Jewish State. But Israel is not being criticized for a lack of scientific, merdical, high-gtech innovation - the attack is against Israel's treatment of Palestinians (and, if they were aware, of Isael's treatement of it's large moinorioty of undocumented foreign workers, asylum seekers, and its own growing numbers of poor!). We must be able to answer the Steven Hawkins and so many others who are falling prey to the lies about Israel re the second class citizenship of Israeli ARabs, of Palestinians in the WesgtBank whose land is sometimes taken for frivolous reasons - or perhaps to extend the borders of a afuture Israel and make a two -state solution impossible. We must ansswer the critics of our beloved Isfrael by explaining that there is justice and compassion for every bulldozing of homes, for every delay at checkpoints, for every lack of sewage in ARab towns on either side of the Green line, and for the behavior that seems to go smack against what we are certain are basic core fundamental Jewish valuies! Can we? I don't think so, for much - not all, thank God, but much of how Israel treats Paelstinians is horrid, unfair, unjust, and stupid, given how clsely Israel is watched. Almsot finally, should we complain about being so closely watched by the world while they barely turn an eye on the host of countries with such human rights violations that stagger our minds? NO! I want to hold ourselvers to a higher standard, a much higher standard than Iraq, Syria, Kenya, the Congo, sudan, Egypt, etc. etc. Even a higher standard of morals and ethics than England and the USA because Israel is THE Jewish State, and if we fall short on Jewish values, then we have failed the Zionist pioneers and creators of Israel as well as the belif for contless centuries that we are a HOLy Nation, unique by being committed to set an example of how a People can live by the highest standards of human conduct, by Justice, by Compassion, by Wisdom, Understanding, Kindness,a nd Love. Israel was not created 65 years ago so that Bibi Netanyahu can spend public tax funds on his wife's make up, a bed on a plane, his favorite ice cream flavor, and illegal imkmoral spending of other Israelis hard earned shekels, even if Israel did not rank 1st in poverty percentages of the 34 most developed countries in the world - where are Jewish ethics and values in Israeli behavior? If not there, then migrate to Canada Germany Austrailia or South Africa, and let's stop calling ourselves so special. The Indians and Chinese will soon bne creating as much high tech stuff as Israel - those accomplishments are not sufficient to justify our exotence or our poor treatment of others!

The occupation of West bank is not something that Israel wants. It something that is necessary until a peace agreement is achieved. As I mentioned her many times, Israel had already agreed to the creation of a Palestinian Arab state at Camp David which Arafat turned down the opportunity. If Arabs are tired of this occupation then they should start by recognizing Israel as Jewish state and make peace.

jews from time immemorial ....learn a bit of history you ignoramus

"the road of twisted lies" Occupation and oppression are real. One doesn't have to be in Israel to know the truth.

We saw evidence of what Palestinians are thinking in the Intifada. Blow up buses, restaurants, children, anybody. Thus the fence; thus the checkpoints, thus exactly what the Palestinians have brought upon themselves.