July 24, 2005 An Appeal to the Israeli Government to Respect Academic Freedom in Palestinian Universities   We, the undersigned faculty, call upon the Israeli government to respect academic freedom and the rights of the Palestinian people to pursue higher education, including free access of Palestinian students and faculty to their campuses, and an immediate lifting of all curfews. In the academic year 2001-2002, there were 82,824 students registered in 31 Palestinian universities and colleges.[1] Since the large-scale Israeli military invasion, universities in the West Bank have been unable to provide adequate services, or were forced to close. On July 9, 2002 Israeli forces attacked the administration building of Al Quds university, confiscating files and computers, and closing the building[2]; on June 25th the Palestine Polytechnic University in Hebron was attacked, on May 29th the Ramallah-Birzeit road was blocked, preventing students and faculty from entering Birzeit University; and the continuing curfews in the main Palestinian cities prevent students from completing the spring semester, and prevent the adequate provision of higher education. Denying students and faculty the right to access their universities is a collective punishment, which is a violation of the rights of people under occupation. Well-functioning universities[3] are essential to the development of free exchange of ideas, pluralism, democratic values, and long-term economic growth, all of which are conducive to a process of reconciliation. In addition to calling upon the Israeli government to respect academic freedom, and the immediate lifting of all curfews, we urge the US government to use its influence to promote adherence to international norms of human rights, and a just resolution to the tragic situation.