Prominent British scientist Professor Stephen Hawking has withdrawn from a major Israeli conference to support the academic boycott of the country.
A statement by the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine , released with Professor Hawking’s approval, said it was his own decision.
"This is his independent decision to respect the boycott, based upon his knowledge of Palestine, and on the unanimous advice of his own academic contacts there."
The Israeli Presidential Conference has had several prominent speakers in previous years, including Tony Blair, George W Bush and Henry Kissinger.
The Israeli ambassador to the UK expressed his disappointment with the decision.
"Rather than caving into pressure from political extremists, active participation in such events is a far more constructive way to promote progress and peace," he said.
Conference organisers were sharp in their criticism of the cosmologist.
"The academic boycott against Israel is in our view outrageous and improper, certainly for someone for whom the spirit of liberty lies at the basis of his human and academic mission," conference chairman Israel Maimon said in a statement.
Pro-Palestinian groups welcomed the boycott of the conference and called on critics to respect Hawking’s decision.
"Many will be taken aback at the extreme reaction among Israel's supporters to the news of Prof Hawking's support for the Palestinian call for boycott,” said a spokesperson from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
"We urge those opposed to boycotts, disinvestment and sanctions to respect freedom of speech."
