The Socialist Worker's Party, who I believe are active and influential within the university and college unions, have been working on pushing through an anti-Israeli boycott for several years.

I am sure they must be delighted by the response to their success.

Bruce G Charlton, Newcastle University, UK

Those who call israel a terrorist state, or an illegal occupier, are either naive, stupid, or (dare i say it) anti-semitic. Look at the facts. Israel has pulled out of the gaza strip (not at international request, but because it would prefer peace to anything else) only to have rockets fired from within that very ground into the rest of israel, or course they're going to attack militants firing at them, WHO WOULDN'T? the difference between an israeli attack and a hamas or hizbollah one is that israel aims for figthters, and occasionally (admittedly maybe too often) hits civilians. Hamas and hizbollah aim for civilians and hit civiliians. A boycott of israel IS NOT going to stop these rockets, and so IS NOT going to put pressure on any sort of withdrawal. Anyone who actually cares about what happens there would know that. Israel is far from perfect, but just because anti-israel campaigners are more vocal doesn't mean they have taken all facts into consideration.

Student at Warwick Unversity, Warwick, UK

Typical Israeli overreaction to everything. If anyone dares criticise Israel, immediately the Israeli MPs begin discussing retaliatory measures. Its an academic boycott and yet Israel wants to boycott ALL British goods. They have they highest rate of ignoring UN resolutions in the world, operate a successful apartheid state were the indigenous population is kept in perpetual poverty - all the while claiming to be 'victims' - and they're wondering why such 'unfair' measures are being taken against them. A ridiculous decision on their part. Syria isn't even in the same league as Israel when it comes to terrorism (since Israel is effectively a terrorist state) and yet only Syria is part of the 'axisof evil'. The most ridiculous double-standards in the world have been enjoyed almost exclusively by Israel and yet they have the nerve to complain!

sakis, London, UK