The Academic Council (CoA) of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) has decided to allow ongoing bilateral discussions to develop collaboration with Birzeit University, located in the West Bank, Palestine.
The French-speaking Brussels university has also decided to maintain the suspension of three institutional research projects tied to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University. This suspension does not affect individual academic relationships with colleagues at these universities.
In May, the Academic Council implemented an "emergency general decision" on institutional collaborations affecting both Israeli and Palestinian universities.
The student movement supporting the Palestinian people, known as the People's University of Brussels [l’Université Populaire de Bruxelles], criticised this impartial treatment of academic boycotts between Israeli and Palestinian universities. They argued that Palestinian universities "do not participate in colonisation, human rights violations, and their rectors do not make genocidal statements."
“Key arguments behind the CoA’s decision regarding the two Israeli universities are their direct or indirect contributions to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and other violations of international law,” ULB stated in a press release on Thursday.
The university emphasised the increased importance of vigilance in the current context, particularly in light of the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court on Thursday. The Academic Council identified "no reasons that would prevent continuing institutional discussions" with Birzeit University.
"This would never have happened without the unwavering commitment of mobilised students," highlighted the People's University of Brussels in a statement, celebrating the lifting of the "shameful measure" against Palestinian universities.
