Pending a final decision, exchanges with two Israeli universities, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University, had already been suspended. As part of the decision, the university will not enter into any new exchange agreements either.
In its fifteen-page report, the committee found it plausible that the Israel Defence Forces are guilty of ‘serious and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the risk of genocide.'
Because Israeli universities and the Israel Defence Forces cooperate closely, the committee argues that academic freedom is at stake. Therefore, the committee advised the Board to terminate the exchanges.
The Board has now adopted this advice. In a statement, the Board emphasises that the decision to terminate the exchanges is the result of a ‘meticulous and stepwise process.’
‘Science can be a very powerful connecting force.’ Breaking such ties could have unintended consequences. Universities exist precisely to seek connection and to maintain collaborative ties. A blanket boycott is ill-suited to that.’
Nevertheless, the Board is adopting the committee’s advice and reasoning. In its statement, the Board writes that the rulings of the International Court of Justice, which the committee cited in its report, weighed heavily in the decision. In addition, the Board notes that ‘there is increasing agreement among researchers that the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza meet the definition of genocide.’
The Board also took into account the United Nations Genocide Convention. This convention places responsibility on its parties to do everything in their power to prevent genocide and, where necessary, to take diplomatic, political or legal action.
‘Although the university itself is not a party to the convention, nor can it be, the Executive Board has taken this perspective into consideration in its decision. Suspension of the exchange agreements can potentially contribute to the broader objectives on which the Genocide Convention is founded,’ writes the Board.
PROTEST
The decision to discontinue collaborations with Israeli institutions follows a series of appeals, opinion pieces, protests and occupations by students and staff over the past two years, calling for and demanding an end to such collaborations.
In its statement, the Board acknowledges that not everyone in the university community will be pleased with this outcome: ‘Not everyone will consider the intended decision to suspend the student exchange programmes to be the desired outcome of this advisory process. For some staff members and students, this intended decision goes too far, and for others, it does not go far enough. As the Executive Board, we have conducted a meticulous evaluation before taking this intended decision.’
Later this year, the Human Rights Committee will issue further advice on academic collaborations with Israeli institutions, after which the Executive Board will take a second decision on those ties.