Uruguayan University Faculty Demands Revocation of Tel Aviv University Agreement Over 'Apartheid' Claims
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- The Faculty of Humanities and Educational Sciences at the University of the Republic (Udelar) in Uruguay has requested the revocation of a 1985 cooperation agreement with Tel Aviv University.
- The faculty cited Tel Aviv University's cooperation with the Israeli army, its alleged involvement in the "apartheid regime" against Palestinians, and the "ethnic cleansing in Gaza."
- The resolution states that continuing the agreement is incompatible with Udelar's principles of defending human rights, education, and international law.
In a significant move, the University of the Republic's Faculty of Humanities and Educational Sciences has taken a strong stance against Israel's actions, demanding the termination of its decades-old agreement with Tel Aviv University. This decision, passed unanimously, reflects a growing wave of solidarity with the Palestinian cause within academic circles, not just in Uruguay but globally.
Es pública y fundada la cooperación de la Universidad de Tel Aviv con el ejército (de Israel), o con distintos aspectos del régimen de apartheid y despojo contra los palestinos, la limpieza étnica en Gaza y el aparato militar, científico e industrial sobre el que se sostiene el esfuerzo bélico de Israel
The faculty's resolution explicitly condemns Tel Aviv University's alleged complicity with the Israeli military and what it terms the "apartheid regime" and "ethnic cleansing in Gaza." By linking the university's cooperation to Israel's "war effort," the faculty is drawing a clear ethical line, asserting that such ties are irreconcilable with the core values of a public institution dedicated to human rights and international law.
This action by Udelar's humanities faculty is particularly noteworthy in the Uruguayan context. It signals a departure from purely academic considerations, embedding the university's international relations within a framework of political and ethical judgment. The faculty's statement about supporting Palestinian students and faculty at Tel Aviv University, and denouncing the persecution of those who speak out against Israeli policy, highlights a commitment to academic freedom and human rights that transcends borders.
A la Universidad de Tel Aviv concurren estudiantes palestinos y hay docentes con ese mismo origen étnico. Queremos expresar solidaridad con los docentes y estudiantes de la Universidad de Tel Aviv perseguidos por denunciar la política belicista del Estado israelí
While Western media might frame this as a controversial academic boycott, from our perspective in Uruguay, it is a principled stand rooted in a deep commitment to justice and international solidarity. It underscores the unique position of Latin American universities in engaging with global conflicts, often prioritizing human rights principles over geopolitical expediency. This decision by the FHCE is not just about an agreement; it's about upholding the integrity of higher education as a force for peace and justice.
En este escenario, la continuidad del convenio marco con la Universidad de Tel Aviv resulta incompatible con los principios que orientan a la Universidad de la República en materia de la defensa de los derechos humanos, de la educación y del derecho internacional, así como con la coherencia institucional exigible a una universidad pública
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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