Dear supporters,

Thank you for signing our petition calling on Wageningen University & Research (WUR) to cut ties with institutions and corporations involved in apartheid, occupation, genocide, and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. Please read the full update to take the next step in furthering the campaign. Your support is crucial in advocating for ethical integrity and social justice within our university community, and ending our complicity in the ongoing Nakba.

The executive board has taken a position against boycotting and divestment, making them actively complicit in the crimes against humanity enacted on Palestinian people. Though they claim to represent the whole academic community, they have made this decision without engaging in a robust democratic process. 

Next step: Let's debate boycott with the Executive Board.

As a next step, we need your help to ensure that our voices are heard by the Executive Board. We will host a public debate next Monday at Impulse at 19:00-21:30 on the question of boycotting institutions that are actively contributing to genocide, occupation, war crimes and human rights violations in Israel/Palestine. This debate is essential for transparency and accountability, allowing the community to engage in a constructive dialogue on this pressing issue.

The board has so far refused to participate in the debate. In doing this, they have failed their responsibilities to the academic community and our democratic values.

Therefore, we are asking all signatories to send a direct email to the members of the Executive Board, demanding that they publicly defend their refusal to sever these controversial affiliations in an open debate. Please click this link to access the email template. Feel free to personalize it to reflect your own thoughts and concerns. 

If the link does not work for you, please copy and paste template below. 

Recipients: rens.buchwaldt@wur.nl, sjoukje.heimovaara@wur.nl, carolien.kroeze@wur.nl

Subject line: Request for Public Debate on Boycotting

Dear Members of the Executive Board,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is [Your Name], a [student/employee] at WUR. I am writing to express my concern regarding the university's relationships with institutions involved in war crimes and human rights violations in Israel/Palestine. The decision to maintain these controversial affiliations raises significant ethical concerns amongst the academic community.

I am requesting that the Executive Board participate in a public debate to defend and clarify the rationale behind your refusal to sever ties. This debate will allow the university to address the community's concerns directly and demonstrate accountability. It will take place at Impulse on Monday, 17th June, 7-9:30 pm.

The proposed debate would:
- Provide the Executive Board an opportunity to defend their refusal to sever ties. 
- Allow for a constructive exchange of perspectives within the academic community.
- Foster an environment of transparency and ethical reflection.

I am confident this debate will address the concerns of the WUR community and reinforce our commitment to improving quality of life for all.

I look forward to your response. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Student ID]
[Your Program/Department]
Wageningen University & Research