Decisions on collaborations

"The Executive Board of the University of Antwerp examined an ongoing cooperation with Hebrew University of Jerusalem. UAntwerp's Ethics Committee for Misuse, Human Rights & Security recently advised against further cooperations with this Israeli university, particularly because of its contributions to Israeli army training programmes.

Rector Herman Van Goethem felt that this was too narrow as a basis and believed that the Hebrew University should also be heard. He therefore asked for a reconsideration of the internal advice and submitted the matter to the Executive Board. The Board rejected the negative recommendation and decided to continue the cooperation with the Hebrew University.

‘A more in-depth risk analysis, complemented by a critical discussion with the Hebrew University's administration, shows that there are no indications of a risk of involvement of this university in severe and/or systematic human rights violations,’ according to Rector Van Goethem. ‘Of course, universities are polygamous biotopes, but as a university, the Hebrew University pursues a policy which is critical towards the consecutive Netanyahu governments.’

Rector-elect Herwig Leirs supports the Executive Board's decision. ‘The Israeli army's action in Gaza has horrific consequences for the civilian population, but the decision on further cooperation with the Hebrew University in a European research project with several partners from multiple countries was taken after thorough discussion based on in-depth research from the rector and on current knowledge. At the same time, I note that it is not in our power to investigate the activities of a foreign university in even greater depth; this goes beyond a university as an institution. Further questions can only be answered at a higher level. I am thinking primarily of Europe."

• Press release by UAntwerp, downloaded on 16/09/2024

Withdrawal executed

Download: Moratorium on collaborations with Israel ​

In an interlocutory judgment, the International Court of Justice recently issued another binding ruling in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. As a result, the University of Antwerp has decided to introduce a moratorium on collaborations with Israeli partners.

‘Israeli partner establishments often have institutional collaborations with the military authorities,’ explains Rector Herman Van Goethem. ‘This is why general collaboration agreements have been put on hold. Ongoing research projects will be completed, but may be subject to additional review by the relevant ethics committee. Participation in new projects is possible only after a review by the said committee.‘

The University of Antwerp calls on its academic colleagues in Israel and Gaza to urge their governments to respect the International Court of Justice rulings on the Gaza conflict. The university also expresses the hope that all parties will abide by international law and that a period of reconciliation and peace will emerge as soon as possible, allowing Gaza to be governed freely and democratically.

• Announcement published by the Department of Research, Innovation and Valorization, downloaded on 16/09/2024​

• Download: UAntwerp's collaborations with organisations in Israel

“The University of Antwerp is open and transparent, and communicates clearly about its activities. Rector Herman Van Goethem explains that this is why the university also shares the list of collaborations with Israeli universities and organizations.

The bloody terrorist attack by Hamas on 7 October of last year and the Israeli response involving largescale destruction and a great many civilian casualties in Gaza have left no one indifferent.

Now more than ever, we need to think about how to end wars and conflicts, not just in the Near East but also in Europe, Africa and elsewhere. As I recently said: ‘Sometimes, extreme polarisation leads not only to the death of soldiers, but also to that of many innocent men, women and children. This requires us to take pause, to take a step back and to not only punish perpetrators, but also look for reconciliation and peace.’

The inconceivable suffering and violations of human rights we have witnessed also evoke intense emotions in students and staff at the University of Antwerp. No one can remain neutral with all of this going on. And those who have formed an opinion on the matter will invariably be astonished to find that others have the complete opposite one.

What kind of attitude should a university adopt in such a context? Could this be a neutral one? In our Board of Governors meeting of 14 May, it was correctly pointed out that this isn’t the right question to ask. We’re not colourless, grey or neutral. However, it’s not a university’s place to adopt a stance towards concrete conflicts that greatly divide our democratic society. Instead, it must function as an agora where opinions can float around, reverberate and clash, so everyone can determine their own views.

As a university we are not adopting a stance, but as members of the university we are not neutral. And the university does not expect us to be, on the contrary. Lecturers can share and defend their own views in classes and debates, as long as they respect academic standards. Students and staff can express their indignation, as is happening at universities all over the world, as long as they do so in a peaceful manner.

Needless to say, our university is grounded in human rights and democracy, in freedom and respect, in striving for social justice. The university has to bear out these principles, not by making symbolic statements that fuel polarisation, but by ensuring that we implement them in the way we do things. This means we reflect on our actions, as well as on our research and our collaborations with partners.

As a transparent and open university, UAntwerp wishes to communicate about its activities in a clear fashion. At the request of staff and students, as well as the media and peace organisations, we have drafted the list of all our ongoing collaborations with universities and other organisations in Israel. We have an Ethics Committee for Misuse, Human Rights & Security that evaluates the risks of our projects contributing to violations of human rights and democracy. To this end, we use a human rights assessment that was agreed upon within the Flemish Interuniversity Council. And just like other universities, our default point of departure isn’t the country or the institution but the individual project. It goes without saying that we are paying extra attention to collaborations in conflict regions where the chances of misuse are higher, but at the same time we do not want to cut off our lines of communication with local researchers, who often function as internal defenders of democracy and human rights within their institution or country.”

• ​Announcement published by the Department of Research, Innovation and Valorization, downloaded on 16/09/2024

"The Antwerp/Bar-Ilan university cooperation agreement aims at promoting academic exchange and entrusted the Faculty of Law with its execution.

The Faculty of Law Council based its detailed decision on a three-step reasoning. Independent United Nations assessments established multiple violations of international humanitarian law by the Israeli defence forces in Gaza. Secondly, the highest authorities at Bar-Ilan University expressed unwavering support for the military action. Thirdly, the Faculty of Law in Antwerp had the responsibility to desist from promoting institutional cooperation with Bar-Ilan University in these circumstances with a view to upholding the respect of international law.

The Faculty has requested the Vice-Rector for International Relations, the signatory to the cooperation agreement, to terminate the agreement. The Faculty of Law’s decision applies solely to Bar-Ilan university. The Faculty of Law has no cooperation with other Israeli universities.

The decision followed a series of events organized by the Faculty during which information was shared and views were exchanged on the basis of ongoing research on the international legal obligations of both parties engaged in the conflict, independent reports on the conditions of life in Gaza, the rights of children, the human rights responsibilities of private actors including universities and the extraterritorial obligations of States not directly involved in hostilities.  The Law and Development Research Group was pleased to facilitate the educational and dialogical space for these discussions during the last months.

The Executive Committee of the Law and Development Research Group welcomes the consensus decision of the Faculty Council. We will continue to apply our expertise in international law and human rights to the conflict, in particular regarding the various current proceedings at the International Court of Justice.”

• Press release Law and Development group, Faculty of Law, downloaded on 16/09/2024

• Abstract: Researching and understanding how Palestinian youth relate to their rights. This action is designed to contribute to Enabel's Cooperation Portfolio Palestine - Empowered Youth in Green Palestine – Specific Objective 2 "Youth Protection and Civic Engagement". The project consists of an academic collaboration between University of Antwerp (UA) and Birzeit University (BZU). It aims at realizing a series of activities oriented at researching and understanding how Palestinian youth relate to their rights. In particular, how they perceive that they are protected against repression and violence, how they engage in their communities and participate in decision making, which rights they aspire to achieve and which rights they consider cannot be achieved in the ongoing colonial context.
• Promotor: De Feyter Koen, Research group on Law and Development
• For more information, click here
• ​Press release Law and Development group, Faculty Law, downloaded on 16/09/2024