Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) has decided to cut ties with Israeli universities following a rally organized by student groups on November 21. The protest was set to coincide with a meeting of the ULB’s Academic Council (CoA) debating on demands urging the university to take action against the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
A coalition of six student groups—the Union Syndicale Étudiante, ULB Palestine, LIBREX, Young Anti-Capitalists, Université Populaire de Bruxelles, and BDS ULB Committee—drove the protest movement.
Before the council’s decision, ULB had 3 institutional research projects linking it to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (UHJ) and one with the University of Tel Aviv (UTA). In their press release, ULB announced that it would cut these institutional ties but still collaborate with individual academics. ULB also pledged to re-establish partnerships with Palestinian universities. This would be a crucial step to help reconstruct Palestine’s educational infrastructure according to the student groups.
After the announcement, student groups took to social media to celebrate the decision. But they emphasized that the struggle is not over.
“Our resilience remains intact. With determination and firmness, we will continue to confront our institutions on their complicity and their oppressive logic. Our struggle does not end here.”
Université Populaire via Instagram
The decision comes as ULB considers sanctions against pro-Palestinian students who occupied a campus building last year, showing ongoing tension between the administration and activists. Since the announcement, new tensions appeared after ULB prohibited a conference by Mohammed Khatib, a Palestinian refugee in Belgium.
