BBC News
8 May 2013
Last updated at 06:53 ET
The British Committee for the Universities of Palestine said
Prof Hawking had taken advice and acted based on "his knowledge of
Palestine".
A University of Cambridge spokesman told the BBC the renowned scientist had approved the BRICUP statement.
Event organisers criticised the move as contrary to Prof Hawking's values.
The June conference will celebrate the 90th birthday of Israeli President Shimon Peres.
'Personal reasons'
UK
cosmologist Prof Stephen Hawking has withdrawn from a high-profile
Israeli conference, apparently in support of an academic boycott of the
country.
A University of Cambridge spokesman told the BBC the renowned scientist had approved the BRICUP statement.
Event organisers criticised the move as contrary to Prof Hawking's values.
The June conference will celebrate the 90th birthday of Israeli President Shimon Peres.
'Personal reasons'
Prof Hawking had been due to give an address at the Israeli
Presidential Conference in Jerusalem, where previous speakers include
Tony Blair, George W Bush and Dr Henry Kissinger.
His decision follows a campaign, led by Palestinian and
pro-Palestinian groups, to persuade the 71-year-old to withdraw from the
conference.
A statement published by BRICUP with Prof Hawking's approval said: "This is his independent decision to respect the boycott, based upon his knowledge of Palestine, and on the unanimous advice of his own academic contacts there."
'Bizarre'
“The academic boycott against Israel is in our view outrageous and improper”
Israel Maimon
Israeli Presidential Conference chairman
"The situation is that he's
discussed it with fellow academics and has decided, for personal
reasons, not to attend the conference in June," a university spokesman
said.
A statement published by BRICUP with Prof Hawking's approval said: "This is his independent decision to respect the boycott, based upon his knowledge of Palestine, and on the unanimous advice of his own academic contacts there."
'Bizarre'
Conference organisers sharply criticised Prof Hawking's decision to withdraw.
"The academic boycott against Israel is in our view outrageous and improper, certainly for someone for whom the spirit of liberty lies at the basis of his human and academic mission," conference chairman Israel Maimon said in a statement.
A spokesman for the Fair Play group, which campaigns against boycotts of Israel, described the scientist's withdrawal as "bizarre".
"Prof Hawking could have joined the conference and explained his views on the conflict in the region, just as many other participants have done.
"By boycotting the conference, he has thrown away this opportunity and will help nobody."
"The academic boycott against Israel is in our view outrageous and improper, certainly for someone for whom the spirit of liberty lies at the basis of his human and academic mission," conference chairman Israel Maimon said in a statement.
A spokesman for the Fair Play group, which campaigns against boycotts of Israel, described the scientist's withdrawal as "bizarre".
"Prof Hawking could have joined the conference and explained his views on the conflict in the region, just as many other participants have done.
"By boycotting the conference, he has thrown away this opportunity and will help nobody."
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