The Dutch-speaking green party Groen supports the open letter in which thousands of professors, deans and students called for a full academic boycott of Israel, said Flemish MP Nadia Naji (Groen).
Thousands of students, professors, researchers and other academic staff have written an open letter. In it, they urge Belgian universities to cease all collaborations with Israeli universities due to the conflict in Gaza and the occupation of Palestinian territories.
"All means to pressure Israel must be utilised to stop the bloodshed," Naji stated.
Next week, the Flemish university chancellors will discuss the letter in the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR). Naji is calling on the VLIR to take action, adding that academic boycotts already exist against Iran and Russia for violations of international law.
"I urge Flemish universities to apply the same standards to Israeli institutions contributing to the genocide and occupation in Palestinian areas," Naji added. "Show moral leadership and halt all collaborations with Israeli universities."
Students at various universities in the country, including UGent, and the Dutch- and French-speaking universities in Brussels (VUB and ULB), have long been organising protests and calling for such a boycott.
