Flemish universities stop cooperation with Israeli partners accused of human rights violations
Flemish universities will no longer enter into new collaborations with Israeli partners implicated in serious human rights violations. The decision was announced by the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR) in a press release on Friday.
In an open letter dated 14 January, thousands of students, professors, researchers and other academic staff called on Belgian universities to sever all ties with Israeli institutions, citing the conflict in Gaza and the occupation of the Palestinian territories.
In response to the letter, Flemish universities have decided not to enter into any new academic partnerships with Israeli institutions implicated in serious human rights violations. Existing collaborations with Israeli research partners will continue to be subject to the VLIR human rights assessment, a framework developed by experts in 2019. "Ongoing projects have been subjected to an additional in-depth review at all universities, taking into account the severity of the conflict," the statement said.
The debate over academic cooperation with Israeli institutions has been going on for some time. Last year, student groups around the world staged protests calling on their universities to cut ties with Israel in response to the war in Gaza. Similar demonstrations were held in Belgium.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO TIMON RAMBOER
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