Tom Hickey should be congratulated for moving the motion calling for a boycott of Israeli universities (The Argus, June 14). I've known Tom for years and, while we don't always agree, he is the last person one could accuse of anti-Semitism.

Such accusations are entirely bogus and simply let the real anti-Semites off the hook.

The boycott of Israeli universities is being supported for the same reason there have been boycotts in the past - the boycott of slave-grown sugar in the 19th century, the boycott of Nazi Germany in 1933 and the boycott of South African apartheid.

When Israel stops treating Palestinians as untermenschen (lower race) there will be no need for a boycott.

Some Israeli academics and universities are complicit in the occupation and oppression of Palestinians.

All the arguments against boycott were raised against the boycott of apartheid South Africa. They were wrong then and they are wrong now.

Tony Greenstein The Crestway, Brighton