Students to IIT Bombay: ‘Reconsider, divest from any collaborations with Israeli universities’

NEW DELHI: Students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have urged the institute to reconsider and get rid of the partnerships with Israeli universities in view of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The students voiced an “ethical” concern over the academic exchanges between the institutions and reaffirmed their stand against injustice and oppression.

Sharing an official IITB mail on social media wherein the Israel's Bar-Ilan International School is inviting the IITians to attend a free webinar on research programmes in chemistry, the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC) expressed concern on the continuing collaborations "despite the ongoing genocide". The student body said in the post, “We must stand against injustice and ensure that our partnerships align with our values of human rights for all.”

Writing to the general secretary academic affairs, the students recalled how the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court have accused the Middle East country of “genocide”.

The IITB scholars believe the institute needs to reflect upon the relationships with “institutions complicit in actions that violate human rights”. They view Israeli universities, which have been related to policies and actions in the Israel-occupied Palestine, standing contrary to the values of justice, equality, and human dignity.

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Israel-Palestine conflict

“In solidarity with the Palestinian people, I urge the Institute and the student body to reconsider and divest from any collaborations or exchanges with Israeli universities. This is not only a moral obligation but also a meaningful act of support for those facing oppression. Our commitment to academic freedom and human rights must extend beyond our own borders. By distancing ourselves from institutions that are implicated in these ongoing atrocities, we can take a clear stand for peace and justice,” the letter to GSAA read.

While acknowledging the complexity of the issue, the students said that they believe this to be the right time to have an open and honest discussion about the institute’s role in supporting or opposing these “injustices”.