JERUSALEM (Reuters) - British cosmologist Stephen Hawking has pulled out of a prestigious Israeli conference, giving conflicting reasons on Wednesday for his absence.
A spokesman for Cambridge University originally suggested that the wheelchair-bound scientist was snubbing the annual event, organised by President Shimon Peres, as part of an academic boycott to protest against Israel's occupation of Palestinian lands.
But the university later retracted the statement, saying Hawking had withdrawn from the Israeli Presidential Conference because of ill health.
"Professor Hawking will not be attending the conference in Israel in June for health reasons. His doctors have advised against him flying," a university spokesman said in an email.
Earlier, the same spokesman reported that Hawking had approved a statement posted by the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine, which said he had decided to boycott the event "based upon his knowledge of Palestine".
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Michael D. Shoesmith
Social Networking Director
Ministry Coordinator
PPSIMMONS/CGM
Just proves that some with brains, have no common sense.
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