We, the students, staff and alumni of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, would like to express our displeasure at the convulsive way in which the HvA Board of Governors is dealing with calls within the organisation, from society and worldwide, to sever problematic ties with Israeli universities and companies. Cooperation with Israeli partners is contrary to all ethical, social and managerial values of the HvA and we demand its immediate severance.

Normalising what is not normal

It cannot have escaped members of the BoE that Israel has been violating the rights of Palestinians for decades and has killed more than 40,000 innocent civilians, including 15,000+ children, since October 7.

Several independent (human rights) organisations have provided evidence of human rights violations and the call for and execution of a genocide against Palestinians by the Israeli army in Gaza over the past nine months. Aid workers and journalists have also been widely murdered. In addition, all public facilities, such as hospitals and educational institutions, have also been largely (irreparably) destroyed.

By continuing to work with partners from Israel, the HvA contributes to the normalisation of war crimes.

Complicity partner institutions

The Israeli National Police (INP), partner in the SHUTTLE research project, as well as its exchange partners Reichman University and the Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art, are problematic.

The INP violates the rights of Palestinians and does not adequately protect them from Israeli settler and/or civilian violence. The HvA's partner institutions are guilty of complicity by, among other things, producing clothing for the IDF (Israeli army), supporting calls by the Israeli government for recruitment and of reservists for the army, and actively contributing to the Act.il propaganda machine and apartheid politics.

▶︎ View post on Instagram about Israeli universities' complicity
▶︎ View post on Instagram about the complicity heud of HvA's Israeli partners part 1: INP
▶︎ View post on Instagram about the complicity heud of the HvA's Israeli partners part 2: Universities

University in 3D, now in practice

The HvA's attitude towards the involvement of Israeli partners in human rights scholarship and the social debate around it contrasts sharply with the HvA's mission and core values, especially the 3Ds from the institution's plan: Diversity & Inclusion, Sustainability & Digitalisation. 

Diversity & Inclusion: The HvA claims to stand for Diversity and Inclusion. This includes "understanding and valuing differences, and the importance and added value of connection". In the debate on human rights violations in Gaza, the HvA claims neutrality, but like other colleges and universities, the HvA actively suppresses expressions of solidarity with Palestine and critical perspectives. 

How do they expect to train socially critical professionals and ''global citizens'' if they (selectively) ignore injustice?

Sustainability: The HvA claims "to be an example to students, employees and other stakeholders in the field of sustainability". But how can you claim to pursue a sustainable society and world without speaking out about the destruction of Palestinian lives and agricultural and natural areas (including biodiversity, contamination of soil and water) through the deployment of weapons exported by the Netherlands and developed in cooperation with higher education institutions in Israel and in the Netherlands. Working with the Israeli defence industry (Elbit Systems and the Israel Innovation Authority), HvA partner university Reichman University contributes to this destruction. This makes Reichman University a problematic cooperation partner of the HvA. 

Digitalisation: Finally, the HvA stresses that "ethical questions and integrity in relation to digitisation are an ongoing topic of conversation in the institution". Nevertheless, the HvA works with Israeli partners who develop and deploy technology to monitor, spy on and suppress Palestinians, as well as spread pro-Israeli propaganda online. In a general sense, Israel is at the forefront of the growing spyware industry, which threatens human rights, press freedom and democracy worldwide.

Take responsibility

In short, by following the Dutch government in its unconditional support for Israel and defending sham neutrality, the HvA is contributing to the erosion of both its own values and universal democratic values and to the undermining of international law. The HvA has an opportunity to take responsibility and fulfil its mission as a metropolitan university of applied sciences by severing ties with Israeli partners and truly showing what it means to educate ''global citizens'' and "urban professionals".

OUR FOUR DEMANDS:

1. Disclose all (recent) ties with Israeli higher education institutions and corporations We specifically demand full clarity on the following:

• Whether the Shuttle Project (2020-2022), which lists the Israeli police as one of its partners, is still running activities (e.g., offering internships), as stated on HvA's website
• Whether the HvA invests in Israeli corporations (e.g., through pension funds)

2. Suspend all institutional ties with Israeli higher education institutions and corporations until the illegal occupation has ended, including, but not limited to:

• The partnership with the Israeli police through the Shuttle project 
• Exchange programs with Reichman University and Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art

3. Provide funding to Palestinian students and scholars who have lost their universities and livelihoods, and build relationships with Palestinian higher education institutions, with a clear timeline and specific targets

4. Ensure the right of expression and protest for both students and staff 

• Expand the current house rules to explicitly include and reinforce the right to protest, as enshrined in the Dutch Constitution 
• Stop hijacking and surveilling activities: cease any practices that undermine or infringe upon the autonomy of students and staff, such as unwarranted surveillance or intervention 
• Enable students and future professionals to adequately engage with critical social issues, such as social injustice and human rights violations, without perpetuating the illusion of neutrality