Suspend collaboration with Israeli universities, is the advice to Tilburg University

Suspend collaboration with academic partners in Israel and halt the exchange of students and staff with these universities. This is the core recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Partnerships, whose report has been submitted to Tilburg University. Committee Chair Nicola Jägers stated: ‘The university has a moral responsibility.’

The committee highlighted the significant risk of Israeli partner institutions being involved in the war in Gaza. It also concluded that these institutions fail to distance themselves from human rights violations or explicitly condemn them, partly due to a lack of academic freedom. To uphold its status as a moral actor, the report suggests, Tilburg University must take action.

After five months of research—described by Jägers as ‘surgical precision work’ — the report has been made public. The investigation was prompted by widespread pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including on the Tilburg campus. These demonstrations frequently called for a boycott of Israeli universities. In response, the Tilburg University requested independent advice from the committee.

Temporary Suspension Recommended

The recommendation to suspend collaboration is based on the current circumstances and does not necessarily imply a permanent halt. Jägers explained: ‘If the situation changes, it can be reassessed.’ She emphasized that many Israeli universities are historically closely linked to the country’s defense sector. While collaboration between academic institutions and defense entities is not inherently problematic, it becomes concerning when there are indications of severe human rights violations.

And such indications exist. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) stated in an interim ruling that Israel might be guilty of genocide. Additionally, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants against figures including Prime Minister Netanyahu.

A Moral Responsibility

Universities bear a moral responsibility, according to Jägers, who cited the core values of academia: the pursuit of truth and integrity. ‘Israeli partner universities can be seen as witnesses and bystanders to the events in Gaza. This entails responsibilities. One would expect these universities to uphold these core values when faced with severe human rights violations.’

That expectation is not being met, Jägers concluded. ‘Because we have a relationship with these partners, we too are bystanders—and we bear a moral responsibility to act.’

No Exchanges from Tilburg University

Taking action, according to the committee, also means that students and staff from Tilburg University should no longer go to Israeli partner institutions. However, Israeli students and staff should still be welcomed at Tilburg. While this may seem contradictory, Jägers argued it is not. ‘Academic freedom is highly valued here. That doesn’t always appear to be the case with our Israeli partners.’

The committee also advised raising awareness among staff about the ethical dimensions of partnerships. ‘For example, by providing a quick scan to assess whether a collaboration might be problematic. Researchers want to contribute positively to society, and such a tool can help.’

A Long-Awaited Report

The report was eagerly anticipated, with some criticizing the time it took to produce. ‘I have been waiting patiently for five months for the decision of the Advisory Committee on Partnerships,’ wrote Professor Philip Paiement in an opinion piece. ‘While I support the committee’s work, I worry that it delays and dilutes the university’s investigation into its Israeli partners.’

Jägers acknowledged that the research took time. ‘Terrible events occur daily in Gaza, with new casualties every day, and it’s difficult to remain silent. I understand that.’ However, the investigation required ‘appropriate diligence,’ which Jägers described as a hallmark of a university.

‘The university lacked a human rights framework; we started from scratch,’ Jägers explained. ‘We first had to establish a foundation, a normative evaluation framework. I find it commendable that the university’s Executive Board gave us this task and allowed us to carry it out with full independence.’

The Board’s Decision

It is now up to the university’s Executive Board to decide on the recommendations. The committee’s task is complete, though this does not mark the end of their involvement. In a world with increasingly frequent conflicts, another case is likely to arise.

_Advertentie.