The US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel encourages all academics in the United States to sign on to this appeal to the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, regarding the Israeli aggression against Palestinian youth and students, and the Palestinian right to education, urging the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
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On 22 October 2015, AURDIP and BRICUP have written to the European Union”s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and to the European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation to alert them to the dramatic situation of Palestinian students confronted by the new Israeli aggression which targets in particular Palestine”s youth and its education system. The letter urges the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
If you are an active or retired academic (whether in Europe or not) you can signify your support for this appeal by filling the signature form here. Your signature will appear with those of other supporters, and will be sent in due course to the European Commissioners.
Support this appeal by filling the signature form here
Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science
Dear Madam, Sir,
For the second time this year, we must call your attention to the illegal behaviour of the Israeli occupying forces towards Palestinian students, teachers and professors. Our letter of February 22 documented several instances of administrative detention, ranging from that of an internationally known astrophysicist to the case of a 14-year old boy [1]. Indeed we depicted a pattern of harassment directed specifically at minors. We urged you to recognise that Israel was in clear breach of its obligations under Article 2 of the cooperation agreement [2], and asked you to bring this conclusion to the attention of the European Commission. The clear implication of Israel”s repeated violations is that the EU-Israel Association Agreement should be suspended, if not cancelled.
With sorrow and concern, we have to report that the situation has much worsened since our previous letter, and that without prompt action it is likely to degenerate still further. Our colleagues in Palestinian universities are reporting extraordinary instances of violence against students. A few examples will need to stand in here for the rest.
On 22 September Hadeel al-Hashlamon, an 18 year old student at Hebron University, was shot by an Israeli soldier at a checkpoint in Hebron and left to bleed to death. Israeli sources claim that she was attempting to stab the soldier, but photographs do not support this. Amnesty International has called the shooting “a case of extrajudicial killing” [3].
On October 7th, two students from Birzeit University, Abdul Rahman Abu Dahab and Ahmed Walid Hamid, were brutally beaten for demonstrating, and the latter was deliberately shot in the leg at point-blank range while restrained [4]. Their present location is unknown.
On October 7th, 18 year-old Bethlehem University student Shurouq Dwayyat was attacked by a settler in the old city, who attempted to remove her veil. When she pushed him away in self-defence, he shot her. She has been in intensive care for more than a week [5].
On October 13th, Israeli forces stormed the campus of Al-Quds University in East Jerusalem, arrested eight students and caused extensive damage [6].
On October 13th, the Technical University in Tulkarem was forced to close until further notice after being stormed by Israeli forces [7].
There are of course many other shocking examples of Israeli brutality during the current upsurge of violence, especially towards people in the student age group [8]. But the Israeli occupation forces have a long record of specifically targeting schools and universities. Indeed during the first intifada, from 1988 to 1992, the whole Palestinian education system, from top to bottom, was closed by military order [9]. Despite the continuing attempts to hobble the Palestinian higher education sector (most recently documented by a Europe-wide academic delegation [10]), these universities have demonstrated remarkable resilience. Indeed Palestine is now widely regarded as having one of the best educational systems in the Middle East. We fear that this success is now in jeopardy, with the university sector in danger of suffering wholesale and lengthy closures as in the past.
The right to education is unconditional [11]. The military occupation of the West Bank is illegal, as is recognized both by the European Union, and by the United Nations. We ask you once again to advise the European Commission that Israel is in violation of the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and in breach of its obligations under Article 2 of the cooperation treaty with the European Union. Consequently the latter should be de-activated.
Yours respectfully,
Ivar Ekeland, Président de l”Association des Universitaires pour le Respect du Droit International en Palestine (AURDIP)
Jonathan Rosenhead, Chair, British Committee for the Universities of Palestine (BRICUP)
