Norwegian university vetoes boycott of Israel academics

TRONDHEIM, Norway (WJC)—The Board of the Norway’s second largest university in Trondheim, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), has unanimously rejected a proposal to boycott Israeli academics.

The boycott petition originated with a letter to the Board from 34 university professors and assistant professors, which said Israeli universities “have played a key role in the policy of oppression” in Israel and that “Israel goes against all the ideals of open universities and academic freedom.

In voting against the boycott proposal, the Board stressed the need for open lines of communication between scientists at NTNU and academic institutions in Israel. “As an academic institution, NTNU’s mission is to stimulate the study of the causes of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and how it can be resolved. This means that the university is also dependent on being able to cooperate with Israeli academics, and hear their views on the conflict”, it said.

“The vote resulted in total victory,” said Professor Bjorn Alsberg, a Board member who led a campaign in Trondheim against the boycott.

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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress