For both Bar-Ilan University (Tel Aviv), Hebrew University (Jerusalem) and the University of Haifa, the committee led by ISS rector Ruard Ganzevoort advises two actions to the Executive Board: do not establish new collaborations and pause existing exchange programmes (which, due to the war in Gaza, are already on hold).
Systematic entanglement with IDF
The committee advises this regarding Bar-Ilan because there are credible indications of the ‘systematic entanglement’ of Bar-Ilan University with the Israeli state and the IDF, and ‘direct involvement in structural violations of human rights and international law (including war crimes)’, as stated in the report. According to the report, there are ‘strong indications’ that the actions of the Israeli army (the IDF) in Gaza can be seen as war crimes and genocidal violence, and thus Bar-Ilan should exercise ‘extraordinary caution’ in their collaboration with the IDF, which, according to the committee, is not observed. The university is also involved in activities in occupied territory, including archaeological excavations and the establishment of Ariel University.
At Hebrew University as well, the committee notes ‘credible indications’ of ‘involvement in structural violations of human rights and humanitarian law, including war crimes’. The university has a physical presence in occupied territory, the committee writes, and there is structural entanglement with the IDF. “Collaboration brings the risk that Erasmus University may become indirectly linked to these violations.”
In collaborating with the University of Haifa, Erasmus University faces the same risks as with Hebrew and Bar-Ilan, according to the committee. This is also due to entanglement with the IDF, for example, through military classes. Haifa is also involved in archaeological excavations in occupied territory.
Reversal of the burden of proof
The committee advises the Executive Board to engage in discussions with the institutions within three months about the steps the Israeli universities are taking to prevent human rights violations. Until the Israeli universities demonstrate that their activities in occupied territory ‘respect Palestinian self-determination’, are ‘accompanied by remedial or reconciliatory programmes’ and that cooperation with the army poses no risk of involvement in human rights or international humanitarian law violations, the committee recommends minimising or suspending collaborations.
With this advice, the committee seems to be responding to the criticism it received recently during a walk-in session. During this session, several attendees urged the committee to reverse the burden of proof: it should not be up to Erasmus University to prove that the Israeli institutions are involved in violations, but rather for the institutions themselves to prove that they are not involved.
Asymmetry
The committee intends to reassess the Israeli universities annually. The Executive Board is currently reviewing the advice and will make a decision on it very soon.
Meanwhile, the committee continues to evaluate other connections with Israeli and Palestinian institutions. Chair Ruard Ganzevoort previously stated that these institutions would not all be assessed in the same way, due to the ‘asymmetry’ of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
