Before a decision is made on whether or not to sever ties, the Executive Board of Radboud University will speak with the leadership of two Israeli partner universities. Rector José Sanders stated this this morning to a small group of protesters at the Berchmanianum.

Bring Them Home. This message, referring to the 59 Jewish hostages still held in the Gaza Strip, was placed next to the pond at the Berchmanianum around 08:30 by seven students and staff members, along with flowers.

‘We want to make a statement to not sever ties with Israeli universities,’ said public administration student Berdian Evink, acting as spokesperson for the group. ‘We believe the advice from the Committee on International Collaborations to sever ties with Israeli institutions is one-sided.’

‘One-sided advice’

That advice, published in early April, recommended that Radboud University freeze its ties with Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University, as the committee claimed these institutions contribute to serious and systematic human rights violations.’

The protesters, who braved the rain this morning, disagree with that assessment. They also criticised the discussion meeting about cooperation with Israeli universities being cut short after only half an hour. ‘We weren’t able to clearly express our viewpoint there,’ said Evink. ‘That’s why we’re taking action now.’

The protesters call the advice one-sided because the advisory committee did not engage in conversations with the two Israeli institutions involved. ‘How can you give good advice if there hasn’t even been contact?’ Evink asked. ‘We believe it’s important that happens.’

Unacceptable

Under a red Radboud umbrella, Rector José Sanders later came outside to listen to the demonstrators. One of the protesters, who works at Radboudumc, said he had previously collaborated with Israeli universities. ‘These are exactly the places where dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians is upheld,’ he said. ‘Muslims, Jews, Christians, and others simply coexist there. That’s why we shouldn’t break the ties.’

Another attendee said cutting ties with Israeli universities would increase negative sentiment toward Jews in the Netherlands. ‘If you walk through the city wearing a kippah, you get yelled at, and sometimes there’s even violence. That will only get worse.’

Complex considerations

Another protester emphasised the importance of allowing Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University to respond to the advisory report. The committee’s report did not include any such rebuttal. ‘That is happening,’ Sanders promised. ‘We’ve already received written responses from those universities, and we are also speaking with them.’

The rector thanked the demonstrators and said she would present their arguments to the other members of the Executive Board. ‘These are very complex considerations we have to make. We’ve received a strong recommendation, and we are working hard to make a well-informed decision based on all the information we’re receiving.’

A decision from the Executive Board is expected within a few weeks.