Belgium’s Ghent university severs ties with three Israeli institutions

Belgium’s University of Ghent (UGent) is severing ties with three Israeli educational or research institutions which it says no longer align with UGent’s human rights policy, its rector says.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Ghent have been protesting against Israel’s operations in Gaza and have been occupying parts of the university since early this month.

The university’s rector, Rik Van de Walle, says in a statement that ties are being cut with the Holon Institute of Technology, MIGAL Galilee Research Institute and the Volcani Center, which carries out agricultural research.

“We currently assess these three partners as problematic according to the Ghent University human rights test, in contrast to the positive evaluation we gave these partners at the start of our collaboration,” Van de Walle says.

Partnerships with MIGAL Galilee Research Institute and the Volcani Center “were no longer desirable” due to their affiliation with Israeli ministries, an investigation by the University of Ghent found, and collaboration with the Holon Institute “was problematic” because it provided material support to the army for actions in Gaza, the university claims.

The three Israeli institutions did not immediately comment.