NEW : Leader of Palestinian boycott movement welcomes Israel 's decision . One tweeter , Ali Abunimah , observes : `` Amazing how many Israelis on Facebook want Stephen Hawking dead , electrocuted or made to suffer in other nasty ways . '' Physicist Stephen Singer decides to pull out of a high - profile conference in Israel . Hawking 's move provoked fierce reaction on Twitter , including accusations of anti - Semitism . Conference organizer says academic boycott against Israel is ` ` outrageous and improper ''
NEW : Leader of Palestinian boycott movement welcomes Israel 's decision . Physicist Stephen Singer decides to pull out of a high - profile conference in Israel . Hawking 's move provoked fierce reaction on Twitter , including accusations of anti - Semitism . Conference organizer says academic boycott against Israel is ` ` outrageous and improper ''