Belgian Academics Demand Severance of Ties with Israel

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, more than 4,500 students and staff from Belgian universities and colleges, including 1,100 professors, have demanded the severance of their academic relations with the Israeli regime. This appeal was made in an open letter signed by academics, students, and public figures, including philosopher Slavoj Žižek, journalist Rudy Vranckx, and author Ish Ait Hamou. The request followed decisions by the University of Antwerp, Ghent University, and Vrije Universiteit Brussel to grant honorary doctorates in April to Francesca Albanese and Professor Nora Erakat. The letter states that by doing so, universities demonstrate their commitment to international law, human rights, and institutional accountability in the face of Israel’s occupation, apartheid, mass violence, and genocide. However, it emphasizes that history is not written solely through ceremonies, and now that accolades have faded, the consequences of honoring Albanese and Erakat can no longer be ignored. The group is calling for the immediate termination of all academic partnerships with the Israeli regime and a halt to new collaborations. They also demand the cancellation of contracts with companies including Dell, VMware, and Microsoft.