Dutch academics boycott Israeli universities

The group’s petition (available in English and Dutch) has already been signed by 491 academics associated with Dutch universities and 550 students. They argue that there is an inherent power imbalance in the current armed conflict. According to the petition, Palestinians live as second-class citizens in a system of segregation, under military occupation. The signatories believe that this is the cause of the escalation of violence now taking place in Israel.

Furthermore, the petition calls on the Dutch government to cut “all economic, political and military relations with Israel, until such a time as all sections of the Palestinian people are afforded their rights”. The signatories declare they are heeding their Palestinian colleagues’ call to boycott Israeli academic institutions because of their ties to the country’s military. However, they do not intend to suspend cooperation with individual Israeli academics.