BRUSSELS: Belgium’s University of Ghent, the country’s top university, has announced that it is severing ties with three Israeli educational and research institutions over human rights violations and brutalities in Gaza, according to a statement from the rectorate.
Rik Van de Walle, the rector of the University of Ghent, announced that the institution is terminating collaborations with the Holon Institute of Technology, MIGAL Galilee Research Institute, and the Volcani Center, which specializes in agricultural research.
Van de Walle explained that the decision was made following a reassessment of these partnerships using the Ghent University human rights test. He noted that while these Israeli institutions had initially received positive evaluations at the beginning of their collaboration, they are now considered problematic based on the university’s updated criteria.
The move comes amidst ongoing pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Ghent, where demonstrators have been voicing their opposition to Israel’s operations in Gaza. The decision to cut ties impacts four ongoing projects, although the Israeli institutions involved have yet to comment on the matter.
The university’s investigation into the collaborations raised concerns about the affiliations of MIGAL and Volcani with Israeli ministries, as well as the Holon Institute’s alleged provision of material support to the Israeli army’s actions in Gaza. Based on these findings, the university deemed the collaborations as “undesirable.”
The announcement of the decision was met with approval from protesters at the University of Ghent, who viewed it as a positive step. However, they emphasized that it is only a first step and vowed to continue their occupation until the university completely severs all ties with Israeli institutions.
