Belgian academics demand Israel boycott in open letter

A large-scale campaign has emerged from Belgium's higher education circles, where over 4,500 academics and students are pressing local universities to sever institutional links with Israel. The open letter, backed by prominent intellectuals such as Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek, journalist Rudi Vranckx, and author Ish Ait Hamou, reflects growing European pressure on Israeli policies.

Reasons behind the boycott call

The letter references three Belgian universities awarding honorary doctorates to UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese and professor Noura Erakat, stating that "history is not written by ceremonies alone." Signatories argue that after the applause fades, the implications of such honours can no longer be ignored, pointing to what they describe as a worsening situation in Palestine.

Expanding demands

The document accuses Israel of violating truces and expanding what it calls the "Gaza doctrine" into Lebanon. Beyond academic ties, the signatories demand the termination of contracts with firms including Dell, Teva, and Microsoft. They also call for an immediate moratorium on new partnerships, urging a coordinated European approach.