In a significant move, the Latin American Anthropologists Association (LAAA) adopted a resolution during its 14th annual conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The resolution, supported by 70% of the participants, categorizes Israel as a state engaged in ethnic cleansing and racial segregation. LAAA urges to boycott Israel and impose sanctions on it.
The conference, organized in partnership with the Brazilian Anthropology Association, drew scholars from across Latin America and aimed to foster collaboration and dialogue in the field of anthropology.
The resolution explicitly addresses the plight of Palestinians during the Nakba, highlighting the association’s commitment to acknowledging the harms caused by 20th-century practices of ethnic cleansing through military operations. The resolution solidifies LAAA’s solidarity with the Palestinian people, aligning itself within a broad academic commitment to combat racism.
The resolution’s text vehemently criticized Israeli policies towards Palestinians, labelling them as a “distorted continuation of heinous racial segregation practices of the 21st century.” This strong language reflects the association’s firm stance against what it perceives as discriminatory practices.
Notably, this isn’t the first instance of such a stance taken by a professional body. The United States-based Association of Anthropology and Archaeology, which boasts around 12 professors and scholars as its members, passed a similar resolution last month with a 71% vote in favor.
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