All universities in Israel broke ties with Belgian universities
Last Updated on June 2, 2024 9:10 am
Belgium’s Ghent University has severed ties with all universities and research institutes in Israel. The decision was made by the Belgian institution of higher learning due to the involvement of universities and research institutes with Jerusalem’s human rights policy. The decision was informed by the university on Friday.
Violent protests have been going on at Ghent University since May against Israel’s attacks on Palestine. Angry students have been protesting and demonstrating in some parts of the university campus.
From there, there is a demand to take action against Israel.
In Europe the university is known as Ugent. A university investigative committee found links between Israeli educational institutions and the Israeli government, military or security services. The university has also expressed concern in a statement in this regard. A ruling by the International Criminal Court (ICC) noted that the humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened in recent months. The university has taken it into consideration.
Ugent cut ties with three Israeli companies two weeks ago. The university has partnerships with 18 Israeli academic institutions.
The university said it will continue research projects with six non-academic Israeli institutions. Because they did not find any link of human rights violations with those institutions.
Earlier last week, two other Belgian universities announced changes in their cooperation policy with Israeli institutions. Meanwhile, the University of Antwerp said it will continue ongoing research projects with Israeli institutions. But new projects will be suspended.
Meanwhile, according to a report by the American media CBS, Harvard University has announced that 13 students will not be awarded degree certificates for participating in pro-Palestinian protests. Citing a university provision related to degree eligibility, the statement said, they violated university policy by participating in the campus agitation. So we cannot award them degrees at the moment.