European Academics Call for Suspension of Cooperation with Israeli Institutions

SadaNews - A number of European academics have called on universities across the continent to stop their cooperation with Israeli institutions, asserting that the continuation of these relationships amidst the crimes committed by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza constitutes complicity in the war and serious violations of human rights.

The academics emphasized in their statements that European educational institutions are required to review their policies and sever any ties that make them partners with Israel in its practices.

They noted that universities in the Netherlands, such as Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Erasmus Rotterdam, and Tilburg, have already announced the termination of their collaboration with Israeli counterparts, while the academic boycott movement expands from Europe to South America.

However, they pointed out that British universities are still lagging behind in supporting this direction, despite the growing popular and academic pressures.

Universities Betraying Their Principles

Anya Topolski, a professor of ethics and political philosophy at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands, stated that an independent research committee made up of Dutch academics issued a report last June revealing "multiple levels of complicity" with the crimes committed by Israel.

She explained that the report "carries a broad message, but it also includes precise data and specific examples that illustrate the extent of moral complicity in military and social sciences."

She added: "As academics who believe in human rights, defend democracy, and reject racism and genocide, we consider we have a direct moral responsibility. Therefore, we feel a deep shock at the universities' disregard for their own data and insights, and their abandonment of commitments to equality, freedom, and inclusivity concerning Palestine."

Topolski continued: "When the war broke out in Ukraine, universities rushed to sever their ties with Russian institutions; yet in the case of Israel, we hear them say they won’t move unless the governments do. This is a great disappointment."

"Universities Care About Appearances"

On another note, Topolski criticized what she described as some universities' attempts to "improve their image" in front of public opinion without taking actual steps to sever cooperation with Israeli academic institutions.

She added: "For example, Utrecht University recently announced its boycott, but in reality, it is not fully boycotting, as it remains connected to ongoing projects with the Israeli side."

She continued: "Research indicates that between October 7, 2023, and this year, the university launched more joint projects with Israeli universities than in previous periods."

Topolski, who comes from a family of Holocaust survivors, expressed: "I grew up always wondering if people had known what happened back then, would they have acted to stop it? What pains me is that today we are witnessing what is happening in Gaza before our eyes, yet people are not doing enough to stop it."

The Dutch academic stressed that merely ending cooperation with Israeli universities is not enough, adding: "Even before October 7 (2023), we hadn’t done enough for Palestine."

She insisted: "When it came to Russia, universities rushed to end academic cooperation immediately, but in the case of Israel, they excuse themselves by saying that governments have not yet taken action, and thus will not initiate anything. This position causes great disappointment."

On April 16, 2025, the BDS movement announced that the Faculty Senate of the American Pitzer College, based in California, voted to boycott various Israeli universities and educational institutions.

"Academic Complicity"

For his part, John Barry, a professor of green economy politics at Queen's University Belfast, noted that cooperation between European universities and Israeli institutions creates two types of complicity.

He added: "The first type is in research cooperation in the fields of cybersecurity and military technology, particularly surveillance technologies. Israel is globally recognized as an advanced developer of these technologies, most of which can be easily converted into military tools."

He continued: "The second type involves granting legitimacy; the association of Israeli institutions with European institutions provides them with diplomatic cover and implies that things are normal and legitimate."

Barry emphasized: "We as academics do not want to be partners in genocide or widespread violations of human rights; cooperation with Israeli academic institutions makes European universities complicit in these crimes."

The British academic criticized the complacency of universities in the UK and Ireland, stating: "I often hear from university administrations that they wish to exclude Israel from certain projects, but they are legally obligated to them. I do not accept this justification."

Special Responsibility

Barry stressed that academics bear a special responsibility.

He said: "We, as educators, are public employees and receive our salaries from the state, hence we are obliged to serve our communities through education; we cannot remain silent in the face of genocide being broadcast live, at the very least, we should include it in our curricula."

He added: "Over the past two years, I have organized public meetings at my university involving academics, activists, and local citizens to raise the issue of Gaza."

He continued: "Even in my lectures on the climate crisis, I have used what is happening in Gaza as a live example, explaining to students the violations occurring there, as it is a politically relevant issue to almost everything we teach."

With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in 65,382 martyrs and 166,985 wounded, most of whom are children and women, and famine that has claimed the lives of 442 Palestinians, including 147 children.