The Academic Council of the Free University of Brussels (ULB) has voted overwhelmingly to suspend institutional research partnerships with Israeli academic institutions, it was announced on Tuesday.
The suspension of partnerships with Israeli universities will remain in place until there is a "clear commitment" from the concerned academic authorities to adhere to the requirements set out by the International Court of Justice in its ruling of 24 May 2024. On its website the university specified that it will not enter any agreements with a Palestinian university until Israeli hostages held by Hamas are released unconditionally.
This academic boycott follows the occupation of the university's Solbosch campus building by around a hundred students since 7 May. The occupation formed part of the international university movement in support of the Palestinian people. Protestors demand that ULB takes a "clear" stance on the war effort by the Israeli government in the Gaza Strip and calls for all forms of cooperation with Israeli universities and companies to cease.
In particular, student protestors object to the collaboration with the Israeli technological university Technion, which is said to be "involved in the development of military technologies". Collaborations with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute of Sciences are viewed as "directly strengthening colonisation structures".
Whilst the university administration maintained that "the Academic Council’s decision does not hamper individual academic and scientific collaborations with researchers from Israeli and Palestinian universities until further notice", it affirmed that "unless stated conditions are met, no new institutional agreement or project with Israeli and Palestinian universities will be initiated".
