VUB students launch new occupation calling for academic boycott of Israel
Around 70 students from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) resumed their pro-Palestinian occupation of a university building on Tuesday. The group, identifying as the Jabalia Hall collective, is again calling for an academic boycott of Israel, a demand made during a similar occupation in the spring.
This protest involves the same students who occupied the STOA building near the VUB student restaurant in mid-May and held a brief sit-in near the Etterbeek campus rectorate. That ended on 10 July, following an agreement with rector Jan Danckaert, who permitted the protest as long as university operations were not disrupted.
Renewed protest
The students have restarted their protest following a brief demonstration during the official opening of the VUB academic year at the Cirque Royale in Brussels. Now, they intend to occupy the I building “for as long as necessary”.
According to student Isa Tomasevic, they have achieved some progress since their initial occupation, including the cessation of some academic collaborations with Israeli institutions. "But this is not enough," she said. "In the meantime, we have learned that the VUB has 11 ties with Israel, rather than the seven that were previously disclosed."
The I building, which houses auditoriums and smaller classrooms, remains functional for classes, with students maintaining that lessons can proceed without interruption. They have also invited Danckaert to discuss their concerns.
Response from VUB
In response to the news on the campus in Etterbeek, a VUB spokesperson said the university will not tolerate the occupation. "We have always remained in dialogue with the activists," he said. "We are not in favour of a general academic boycott and will not deviate from that position."
For now, the activists are allowed to stay. In the coming days, the VUB management will investigate to what extent intervention is necessary, possibly by means of police involvement.
Action for Palestine and Lebanon at VUB's Etterbeek campus, Brussels © BELGA PHOTO TIMON RAMBOER
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