Pressure point

Here's a report by Polly Curtis on the latest effort within the UCU: a motion for the upcoming annual conference, to 'consider the moral and political implications of educational links with Israeli institutions'. Curtis fills in the background:

Previous attempts at a boycott have caused international outcries, especially in Israel and the US.

When the union backed a boycott in February 2005, the story hit the front pages in Europe, North America and Asia. The debate raged for several weeks when a delegation of Israeli academics put pressure on the union by touring UK campuses.

Run that one again: 'put pressure on the union'? Interesting turn of phrase. A group of Israeli academics stating a view constitutes pressure. What, is it the University and College Union or the Union of Wilting Flowers?