Chancellor of the University of Turin: 'It's only an announcement, no boycott of Israel'

"There is no boycott and even less anti-Semitism" in the decision of the academic senate of the University of Turin, which yesterday voted on a motion that considers academic participation in the Maeci 2024 call for cooperation between Italian and Israeli institutions in scientific research inappropriate, given the continuing war in Gaza. The rector of UniTo, Stefano Geuna, rejects the accusations raised in recent hours. "It was an action on a very specific notice," he explains, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Universities Against Sexual Harassment table, "All the agreements currently in force with Israeli universities, and there are many, remain valid. On that specific point,' Geuna emphasised, 'a consideration was made by the academic community that must be respected for what it is. In all the speeches, the lecturers said that scientific boycotts are unnecessary. Science,' the rector added, 'has always been, is and will be a bridge, even and especially at times when there are international difficulties'.

The pro-Palestine student collectives who yesterday celebrated the Senate's vote, which came at the end of an assembly, after they had stormed into the Rector's Hall to call for an academic boycott against Israel, want even more: the university students are calling for the 'immediate withdrawal of all agreements between our university and Israel'. But there are those who think the opposite and have launched a petition on Change.org. Promoting it are "graduates and students of the university of Turin of all ages and in all sciences" and "people who care about scientific progress": the rector is asked "that the university maintain relations with Israeli universities", because "it is fundamental for the academic and cultural growth of our students and teachers".