UCEAP Reverses Decision to Cancel Israel Event

The UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) has reversed their decision to cancel a June 2 event celebrating Israel’s 50th anniversary.

The description of the event on their website now states, “UCEAP will host a reception marking 50 years of educational partnership with Hebrew University on the originally scheduled date, June 2, at UCLA. Please excuse any confusion about the occurrence or timing of this event. We hope you will join us as we honor this milestone of academic collaboration and mutual benefit.”

As the Journal has previously reported, UCEAP had initially announced that they were canceling the event due to alumni questioning the decision to host the event in light of the recent violence in Gaza. Rabbi Aaron Lerner, the executive director of UCLA’s Hillel, had told the Journal in an email that the event was going to happen anyway “in spite of political grandstanding.”

UCLA professor Judea Pearl told the Journal in an email that such questions from alumni tend to happen with Israel event.

“I am glad the administration has reversed its decision and I hope it sends a clear message that programs at UCLA are judged by their academic merits, not by BDS agenda,” Pearl wrote.

UCEAP has not responded to the Journal’s request for comment.