UPV-EHU has reiterated that it will not participate in projects involving Israel and has rejected projects worth EUR 247 million
In the words of Rector Joxerramon Bengoetxea, "the issue of the genocide of the Palestinian people is a priority" for the UPV-EHU. He recalled that in April 2024 they agreed "to break off relations with universities and institutions that do not condemn the crimes being committed against humanity in Palestine."
The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) has rejected research projects involving Israel, which, according to Rector Joxerramon Bengoetxea, are mostly biomedical and computational science projects and are funded by EUR 247 million.
In recent months, the UPV has taken the decision to reject these projects, which in some cases have been "the decision of the university research groups" and in others "the decision of the rectoral team."
Rector Bengoetxea appeared at a press conference in Bilbao with Estitxu Garai, Vice-Rector of the Bizkaia Campus and Communication, and Asier Blas, Vice-Rector of Students and Social Commitment.
He wanted to make it clear that since November 2023 no research project involving Israel has been signed or renewed at the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea. "The issue of the genocide of the Palestinian people is a priority for our university," he said. He also recalled that in April 2024 they agreed "not to maintain and break relations with Israeli universities and institutions that do not expressly condemn crimes against humanity in Palestine."
European funds
Moreover, the rector of the UPV has urged the European Commission and the Spanish Government to exclude Israeli universities from the funds earmarked for research, academic and cultural cooperation.
In fact, Israeli research groups receive funds from initiatives such as Horizon Europe , 'under the same conditions as European researchers, taking advantage of the partnership agreement between Europe and the Israeli Government'.
Bengoetxea has announced that the UPV/EHU Governing Council will consider atits next meeting the establishment of a clause on respect for human rights and non-contact with the arms industry in all cooperation agreements signed with companies .
In this regard, he recalled that a few months ago the UPV refused to create a roomwith the CAF, the university's "strategic partner", because it has a contract in force to sell trains to Israel for the Jerusalem tram. It also provides for the creation of a housing and maintenance grant for Palestinian researchers at the UPV.
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