BRUSSELS, Friday, May 31, 2024 (WAFA) – Belgium’s Ghent University has severed ties with all Israeli universities and research institutions, as they no longer align with its human rights policy, the university said on Friday.
“The Committee on Human Rights Policy notes that there is a high degree of interdependence between many of the Israeli academic institutions with which it cooperates, on the one hand, and the Israeli government, army and/or security services, on the other,” the Committee on Human Rights Policy and Dual-Use Research, which conducted an investigation, said.
The investigation, according to Reuters, also referenced the International Court of Justice’s recent ruling, which ordered Israel to immediately halt its offensive on Rafah in the southern blockaded Gaza Strip.
“The International Court of Justice's interlocutory rulings indicate very serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by the Israeli government in Gaza. The Committee therefore believes that collaborations with Israeli government organisations are highly problematic in the light of the university’s human rights policy,” the statement read.
Ghent University, which already severed ties with three Israeli institutions two weeks ago, had 18 ongoing multi-partner research collaborations involving one or more Israeli partners, all funded through Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, the statement added.
Protesters told Belgian broadcaster VRT they welcomed the decision but want to see it extended to include the six Israeli non-academic partners Ghent University currently partners with. They added they will continue their protest until this goal is achieved.
Earlier this week, two other Belgian universities announced changes in their partnership with Israeli institutions.
The University of Antwerp announced it would continue its ongoing research projects with Israeli institutions but put new projects with Israeli partners on hold.
The Université Libre de Bruxelles announced that it will no longer initiate projects with Israeli partners.
K.F.
