Israel row professor to face panel

The university moved quickly

Oxford University says a professor who is accused of rejecting a student's application because he was from Israel is to face a disciplinary hearing.

Professor Andrew Wilkie, Nuffield professor of pathology, allegedly told the student there was "no way" he would accept him because he had "a huge problem" with the way Israelis treated Palestinians.

The student, Amit Duvshani, a masters student at Tel Aviv University, had applied to work for a PhD under Professor Wilkie.

He says he was rejected in an e-mail from the professor which outlined his objections to Israel's treatment of Palestinians.

Oxford University said on Friday it was "appalled" that a member of staff had responded to an application from a potential student in that way.

Selection ban

An initial investigation has led to the university's vice-chancellor, Sir Colin Lucas, to refer the case to Oxford's disciplinary panel, known as the Visitatorial Board.

A spokesperson for the university said Professor Wilkie would not be allowed to take part in the selection of staff or students until the hearing was over.

Professor Wilkie has already apologised to the student, saying: "I recognise and apologise for any distress caused by my e-mail of June 23 and the wholly inappropriate expression of my personal opinions in that document.

"I was not speaking on behalf of Oxford University or any of its constituent parts."

The university has issued a statement saying that: "Under no circumstances are we prepared to accept or condone conduct that appears to, or does, discriminate against anyone on grounds of ethnicity or nationality."

Professor Wilkie has 28 days to reply in writing to the disciplinary panel, and any ruling can be subject to a further appeal.