An Israeli graduate student from Tel Aviv University, who applied to continue his studies under the tutelage of a professor at Oxford University, was rejected on the grounds that he had served in the Israeli army and that Israel had inflicted "gross human rights abuses" on the Palestinians.
Nuffield Professor of Pathology Andrew Wilkie e-mailed the student on 23 June that he was unable to consider the student's application because he had "a huge problem with the way Israelis take the moral high ground from their appalling treatment in the Holocaust." He added that he was not the "only UK scientist with these views." Two days later, following a barrage of protests, Oxford University apologized for Professor Wilkie's anti-Israel stance. The university spokesman said that freedom of expression was everyone's right, but the university could not condone discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity or nationality. He promised that the university would conduct an investigation into the incident. On 27 June Professor Wilkie issued a personal apology.
A spokesperson for the University of Oxford said:
"Our staff may hold strongly-felt personal opinions. Freedom of expression is a fundamental tenet of University life, but under no circumstances are we prepared to accept or condone conduct that appears to, or does, discriminate against anyone on grounds of ethnicity or nationality, whether directly or indirectly. This candidate is entitled to submit an application and to have it dealt with fairly according to our normal criteria.
"Professor Wilkie has issued a personal apology regarding remarks he made by e mail to an applicant for a research degree at Oxford. An immediate and thorough investigation of this matter is now being carried out in accordance with the University's procedures and a report will be presented to the Vice-Chancellor next week."
Note to editors:
The full text of Professor Wilkie's apology is:
"I recognise and apologise for any distress caused by my e mail of 23 June and the wholly inappropriate expression of my personal opinions in that document. I was not speaking on behalf of Oxford University or any of its constituent parts. I entirely accept the University of Oxford's Equal Opportunities and Race Equality policies."