Academic boycott of Israel surges despite Gaza war's end

Academic boycotts targeting Israeli universities and researchers have significantly increased despite the conclusion of the Gaza war, according to a new report by Israel's own monitoring organization. The findings indicate that Israel's international academic isolation continues to deepen, with approximately 1,000 European institutions now implementing full boycotts against Israeli academic partnerships.

Persistent Boycott Movement

The report, prepared by the Academic Boycott of Israel Monitoring Team established by Tel Aviv's Committee of University Presidents, found that rather than diminishing after hostilities ceased, boycott activities actually intensified. Published in the economic publication The Marker, the research suggests Israel's negative perception in Europe has become "so deeply entrenched that political moves alone are not enough to shift public perception." This persistent academic shunning presents what the report characterizes as "a real strategic threat" to Israel's international educational standing.

Economic and Research Consequences

The boycott movement has produced tangible effects on Israeli academia's financial and collaborative prospects. During 2025, Israeli scholars experienced reduced research grants from the European Union's Horizon Europe program, a primary funding source for scientific research. This decline stems from Israeli academics being systematically excluded from international cooperation projects seeking Horizon funding. The economic impact compounds the professional isolation, creating what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged in September as "a kind of isolation" requiring greater national self-reliance.

Distribution of Boycott Types

The monitoring team's analysis revealed that individual researchers bear the brunt of boycott measures, comprising 57% of all cases through exclusion from international research collaborations. Institutional boycotts between European and Israeli universities account for 22% of incidents, while professional association boycotts represent 7%. The remaining 14% involves suspended international programs including student exchanges and postdoctoral partnerships. The report concludes this trend "will accompany Israeli academia for a long time" without significant geopolitical changes in the region.