{"id":169487,"date":"2024-06-12T11:50:38","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T09:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=169487"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:23","slug":"dont-bow-to-protests-house-of-representatives-tells-higher-education-bosses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/06\/12\/dont-bow-to-protests-house-of-representatives-tells-higher-education-bosses\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t bow to protests, House of Representatives tells higher education bosses"},"content":{"rendered":"

A right-wing majority in the House of Representatives is calling on the government to urge higher education institutions not to bow to pressure from protestors by cutting ties with Israeli institutions.<\/p>\n

\"\"

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTyna Le<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The SGP argues that students, academic staff and protesters at several Dutch universities \u2018are using intimidating pressure to bring about the cutting of ties with Israeli institutions in response to the war in Gaza\u2019.<\/p>\n

Vandalism<\/h2>

In an effort to get higher education administrators to cut these ties, demonstrations and occupations are taking place across the higher education sector. Acts of vandalism during the occupation of a University of Amsterdam building drew criticism. Protestors covering their faces with scarves and calls for an \u2018intifada\u2019 have also provoked angry responses.<\/p>\n

But the protests reflect a wider call for action. Pressure is mounting on the Israeli government to halt its military offensive after killing so many Palestinians in Gaza in a furious response to the bloody attack by Hamas on 7 October last year.<\/p>\n

Holocaust<\/h2>

But SGP politician Diederik van Dijk argues that breaking ties with Israeli universities could undermine Holocaust research. In an effort to avoid this, he tabled a motion.<\/p>\n

In it, he called on the government to urge higher education institutions not to give in to the pressure. He also wanted the government to make it clear to the institutions that Holocaust research \u2018must be allowed to proceed unhindered\u2019.<\/p>\n

Government involvement?<\/h2>

No party is in favour of university administrators being intimidated or Holocaust research being adversely affected. The key issue is: should the government get involved?<\/p>\n

The vote on the SGP motion made it clear that the four coalition parties gearing up to govern the Netherlands \u2013 PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB \u2013 are for government involvement on this issue. They were backed by opposition parties CDA, ChristenUnie and JA21.<\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t