Middle East Conflict and Israeli Academics
Mona Baker provides commentary on the Middle East conflict, and research in translation and intercultural studies. Her website also has sections on the boycott of Israeli academic institutions, Israel and Palestinian universities, general opinions on the Middle East and calls for boycott of Israeli products and services.
Baker was a signatory of the 2002 open letter to boycott Israeli institutions. She received much criticism and created great controversy when she removed two Israeli academics, Dr. Miriam Shlesinger of Bar-Ilan University and Professor Gideon Toury of Tel Aviv University, Israel, from the editorial boards of her journals Translator and Translation Studies Abstracts, based on their affiliation to Israeli institutions.
Baker stated that the interpretation of the boycott was her own and she did not necessarily expect other signatories in a similar position to adopt the same course of action. Prof Baker, of Egyptian origin, said she was bemused by the row over two "tiny" journals. A spokeswoman for the university stated that: "This is nothing to do with Umist. The boycott documentation clearly states Mona Baker signs it as an individual."
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