The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement was soundly swatted back by British universities. Citing “free exchange of ideas,” a UK university umbrella group is working to distance itself from the student union.

Stuart Winer writes for The Times of Israel:

Israel boycott rejected by British university umbrella group

An umbrella group representing Britain’s universities on Wednesday distanced itself from a decision by the country’s student union to boycott Israel a day earlier, saying it was “firmly opposed” to the embargo on the grounds that it contradicts the principle of “free exchange of ideas.”

Universities UK, which represents 133 British universities, said in a statement that it wanted to make clear its rejection of the boycott passed by the UK National Union of Students, joining official London in speaking out against the vote.

“Given the reported perception in Israel that UK universities support an academic boycott, the board of Universities UK wishes to confirm its previously stated position that it is firmly opposed to any academic boycott of Israeli universities,” the statement read.

The student vote, part of a larger Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement targeting Israel, was harshly condemned in Jerusalem, with at least one official threatening to take action against those who boycott the country.

Universities UK said it is “committed to the free exchange of ideas between universities and between academics, regardless of nationality or location.”