EUR freezes institution-wide collaborations with Bar-Ilan University, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and University of Haifa

The decision by the EUR Executive Board follows the advice of the independent Advisory Committee on Sensitive Collaborations (ACGS), which issued its recommendation last week. The Executive Board is aligning its decision with the committee’s advice.

Annelien Bredenoord, President of the EUR Executive Board: 'Our international collaborations are based on academic freedom and scientific diplomacy. But that freedom has limits when fundamental human rights are at stake. Based on the committee’s investigation, we consider the risk of indirect involvement in human rights violations too high. Critically evaluating partnerships also aligns with our societal mission and Erasmus values. The advisory committee has done extensive work over the past year, for which we are grateful. As long as we lack confidence that collaboration would not indirectly involve EUR in human rights violations, institutional collaborations and existing exchange programs will remain frozen, and no new collaborations will be initiated.'

Bar-Ilan University

According to the committee’s investigation, there are significant risks that Bar-Ilan is involved in human rights violations. The Executive Board follows the advice that collaboration with Bar-Ilan is no longer tenable and therefore freezes the partnership immediately until further notice.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Haifa

The Executive Board will also freeze collaborations with The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Haifa. Based on these universities’ relationships with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the committee and the Executive Board assess the risk of involvement in human rights violations as too high.

To consider future institutional collaboration with The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Haifa, the Executive Board requires these universities to demonstrably distance themselves from involvement in human rights violations, particularly regarding research activities in occupied territories and cooperation with the IDF.

As long as the Executive Board lacks confidence that collaboration would not indirectly involve EUR in human rights violations, institutional collaborations and existing exchange programs will remain frozen, and no new collaborations will be initiated.

The Executive Board will contact the administrations of both universities within two weeks.

Room for dialogue

The Executive Board understands that these decisions may provoke diverse reactions within the EUR community. The war in Gaza deeply affects many, and the board feels connected to all who suffer from the conflict’s consequences.

'We see that some members of the EUR community no longer feel free to express themselves, or feel unsafe because of their background, beliefs, or social engagement. This affects us deeply. We remain committed to what a university should fundamentally be: a place that welcomes multiple perspectives, where respectful disagreement is possible, and where everyone can feel physically and mentally safe. At the same time, we recognize that feelings of insecurity cannot always be fully prevented', the board emphasizes. It therefore calls for open and respectful dialogue and will continue to support initiatives from within the community.*

Guidance for faculties

Discussions have been held with deans about the implications of this decision for involved staff and students, the continuation of collaborations, and the implementation of evaluation moments. Faculties will work with operational frameworks, for example, on how to handle peer reviews by individual staff from the universities and collaboration within international consortia and alliances.

*In an earlier version, this quote explicitly referred to 'students and staff with Jewish/Israeli backgrounds and those from the pro-Palestinian movement.' Although this was not the intention, the phrasing may have unintentionally suggested a contrast between these groups. We acknowledge that this could evoke an inaccurate division and does not do justice to the diversity of perspectives within all communities. Therefore, the text has been revised to be more inclusive and to better reflect our commitment to a safe, respectful, and open campus for everyone.

Advisory Committee on Sensitive Collaborations (ACGS) 
The Advisory Committee on Sensitive Collaborations (ACGS) was established in June 2024 to evaluate collaborations with universities in conflict zones. The committee is independent and provides solicited and unsolicited advice to the Executive Board on sensitive collaborations. The immediate trigger was growing concern within the EUR community about partnerships with institutions in regions where fundamental human rights are at risk, starting with Israel and Palestine. After establishing the context assessment in April 2025, which outlined the risks for evaluating collaborations, the first three Israeli universities (Bar-Ilan, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the University of Haifa) were assessed. In the near future, the committee will also advise on collaboration with the Palestinian Birzeit University and Tel Aviv University in Israel.