Proposed Resolution to the 2015 Business Meeting

Considering that the American History Association (AHA) is dedicated to the “preservation of historical documents and artifacts… [and] the broadening of historical knowledge among the general public; and the pursuit of kindred activities in the interest of history”;

Taking into account the AHA’s statement approved on January 07, 2007 in which the AHA declares it “should stand ready if political or commercial concerns threaten the professional administration of an archive, historical society or other institution that has custody of sources”;

Recognizing that historical records concerning the expulsion of the Palestinian population from what is now Israel and the territories occupied in 1967 is predominately preserved as oral history at the Islamic University in Gaza;

Acknowledging that the Israeli Defense Forces admitted on August 2, 2014, to attacking the Islamic University in Gaza, where the Oral History Center is housed;

Cognizant of the Oral History Association’s (OHA) resolution condemning the actions of the State of Israel and implementing measures which express the OHA’s condemnation of threats to Palestinian historical records;

Be it hereby resolved that the AHA condemns the attack by the State of Israel against Palestinian researchers and the preservation of their archival collections at the Oral History Center;

Endorses the decision of AHA members to cut institutional and individual ties with Israeli academic institutions until such time as Israel reaches a comprehensive settlement with the Palestinians which takes into account the Palestinians’ rights under international law, including the right of refugees to return to their home and the right of Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality;

And instructs the AHA Executive Committee to develop measures to cut such ties.