CONFERENCE OF ITALIAN UNIVERSITY RECTORS – CRUI says “no” to Israel boycott: It is a “complex situation”

An official stance by the Italian Rectors’ Conference (CRUI) about the conflict in Middle East was long overdue. In particular on the boycott of Israel called for by student protests that have disrupted classes and occupied universities spaces for weeks. In late May, CRUI made it however clear that there will be no interruption in relations with Israeli universities. At the end of its general assembly in Rome, the Rectors’ Conference released a note pledging “to continue scientific collaboration with foreign universities in every country.” That includes Israel. Discontinuing agreements with the Jewish State’s academia would signify “to reject the importance of places for reflection, critical thinking and constructive confrontation. Science and culture are guarantee of free spaces for dialogue even among different opinions and visions.” Hence the no to any boycott. “It is essential to avoid encouraging escalation with aprioristic sides,” cautioned CRUI president Giovanna Iannantuoni. “The Middle East situation is complex and should be analyzed as such. True courage is not to give up to partisan logic but stand for peace instead.”
Since October 7, Jewish and Israeli students have denounced episodes of antisemitism and a worrying climate of intimidation in several Italian universities. The CRUI note recalled that universities should be “a free and peaceful place” of dialogue, where violence can never have a place. Citing Italian President Sergio Mattarella, the CRUI also endorsed the call for “an immediate cessation of hostilities and the release of hostages seized in the inhumane October 7 attack. The massacre of civilian that has been perpetrated in the Gaza Strip since then and the simultaneous destruction of all infrastructure, not least universities, have already exceeded all acceptable limit.” A commitment also came from the rectors to open up new collaborations to welcome Palestinian students.