Israel-Palestine

University Statements

Update on Israel-Palestine: Review of University links - 31 May 2024, Vice-President: Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Dear Staff and Students,

We are undertaking a review of our links as a university with Israel and Palestine. This review is taking place in the light of our commitment to peace, justice, and accountability and to the rule of international law and is further informed by the International Court of Justice’s finding (para. 50) of 24 May ‘that, in conformity with its obligations under the Genocide Convention, Israel must immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part’.

In the light of the ICJ’s continuing findings, the review is established with a view to considering and complying with the United Nations (UN) Database Pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution 31/36; the Don’t Buy Into Occupation (DBIO) list of financial institutions and companies involved in Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise; the list of the Who Profits Research Center; and the list of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC).  

In our statement of 6 February we extended our deepest empathy and support to all our students and staff, all our communities, affected by events in Israel and Palestine. We are very conscious of the potency of universities in enabling international understanding. In that context, we undertook to strengthen relationships with universities in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in common cause. We also welcomed the Irish Government’s call for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, as reported, ‘on the basis that Israel may be breaching the agreement's human rights clause’ and are reviewing our university’s relationship with Israeli institutions in that context.

A working group has therefore been established under the auspices of the University Management Team. The working group is comprised of the following members of UMT: Becky Whay; Ciara Meehan, Helen Maher (Chair), Jim Livesey, and John Caulfield. The objectives of the working group are to:

• Engage with external stakeholders to establish a body of evidence to inform decisions.
• Engage with internal staff and student representative groups.
• Review links with Israeli institutions and industry.
• Strengthen links with Palestinian institutions, civil society, and industry.
• Present the review findings and recommendations to the University Management Team for consideration and approval as appropriate.

The review process will include analysis of:

• Recommendations and information gathered by the organised staff and student groups within the University.
• United Nations (UN) Database Pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution 31/36 and the PACBI Guidelines.
• Research collaborations in a broad context.
• Consultation with appropriate external stakeholders.
• Actions undertaken by higher education institutions in the EU to date.
• International law as articulated by the findings of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
• Specific supports for Palestinian scholars.
• Our values as a university which stands for peace, justice, and accountability.

At this stage, we have established that the University does not hold any investments in Israeli companies.

The review report will be completed for our next Governing Authority meeting, on the 26 June 2024, and will be made public as an exercise in transparency and a continuing statement of our university’s position. We will also publish the written submissions and notes from the Working Group meetings. We are constructing a webpage to keep staff and students informed, this will also include links to relevant NGOs for members of our community seeking to provide support.

Our university values are premised on cultivating respect and supporting inclusion for all staff and students recognising the value and importance of the diversity of our community and our religious and cultural backgrounds. We are very keen that all voices are heard and considered in the review. Accordingly, submissions are invited to the review group at ovpedi@universityofgalway.ie by 5.00pm 12 June. All views, individual and/or collective, are encouraged and welcomed.

We remain acutely conscious of the potency of universities in enabling international understanding and of our own strategic mission to act as a values-led university for the public good. We once again reiterate that ‘we stand for peace’: we condemn all acts of terror and violence and we join in the calls for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and for the release of hostages, and for justice, accountability, and equal protection of human rights.

With kind regards,

Dr Helen Maher, Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Statement on Israel - Palestine - 6 February 2024, University President

Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week here on campus from 19 to 22 March marks our university’s commitment to anti-racism and anti-apartheid on the occasion of his honorary conferring here in June 2003. In preparing for the week of events planned in that regard, it presents us with an opportunity to reflect once again on his courage as a man of peace.

In his acceptance speech here, Nelson Mandela said that ‘the world is now in greater need than ever for men and women of peace to stand up and let their voices be heard and their commitment felt’. We are once again at this juncture during this shocking period in the history of our humanity – and inhumanity.

On 18 October, we issued a statement which at that time we thought and hoped would be definitive in the context of events in Israel and Palestine. Unfortunately, the horror of war, the continued killing of innocent civilians on and since 7 October and what the UN Secretary-General has called ‘the collective punishment of Palestinians’ demands a further elaboration of our values in this regard.

On 18 October, we said that ‘we stand for peace’: this means that we condemn all acts of terror and violence and that we join in the calls for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and for the release of hostages, and for justice, accountability and equal protection of human rights. 

We said that ‘we stand, as President Michael D Higgins has reiterated, for multilateralism and the rule of international law’: this means that we here support and amplify the important voices in this arena of our Irish Centre for Human Rights, representing the passion, compassion and expertise of our colleagues in the field.  We also reiterate the International Court of Justice’s finding (p. 7) that ‘Israel must take all measures within its power to prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide in relation to members of the Palestinian group in the Gaza Strip’ and that ‘Israel must take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip’. Above all, the ICJ found that Israel must ‘take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts’ coming within the scope of the Genocide Convention. 

We said that at University of Galway, ‘we have an opportunity as a university community to show how diverse and different perspectives can coexist peacefully and constructively’ and we quoted the poem by the Palestinian poet Marzouq al-Halabi, published in the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz, that 

History
must remain free
to include a third narrative.

As universities, we have a role in finding that third narrative, those new ways of thinking. This means that, in concert with our own Government and so many others around the world, we support the peaceful co-existence represented by freedom, justice and equality for all in the region, recognising that the current conflict is a consequence of ‘deeply-rooted tensions in the region’, where for a long time now, in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank, humanity, human rights, and the right to peaceful co-existence have been violated. 

In another setting, in his native South Africa, Nelson Mandela also said, ‘the power of education extends beyond the development of skills we need for economic success. It can contribute to nation-building and reconciliation’. In this context, as a university, as a community of scholars and students, the destruction of universities in Gaza and the consequent killing of so many students and academics by Israeli forces is particularly grievous to us. As a university community, we have a particular responsibility to oppose the deliberate destruction of facilities of higher learning and the targeting of academics and we do so here. We call for accountability for such crimes, and an end to the killing. 

Nelson Mandela went on to say ‘we are steadily but surely introducing education that enables our children to exploit their similarities and common goals, while appreciating the strength in their diversity’. This is an important reminder for us all at this time of our values and the need to respect diverse voices and backgrounds. We are for peace, peaceful co-existence and international law. We are for 

Envisioning a future
offers protection from a cruel past
from pessimism
and stops you from falling into a pit with your enemy.

We are therefore against anti-semitism, Islamophobia, acts of apartheid and any language, words or deeds – in the classroom or without – which disrespect another. All of us should also appreciate that being Palestinian does not equate with Hamas and that the actions of the State of Israel do not represent all Jews and Israelis.

We extend our deepest empathy and support to all our students and staff, all our communities, affected by events in Israel and Palestine. We are very conscious of the potency of universities in enabling international understanding. In that context, we will strengthen relationships with universities in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in common cause. We welcome the Irish Government’s call for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, as reported, “on the basis that Israel may be breaching the agreement's human rights clause” and will review our university’s relationship with Israeli institutions in that context.

We also commit to supporting all our Israeli and Palestinian students and staff. With that in mind, and in our hearts, at its meeting this morning UMT discussed making further practical supports available to all those affected. An email in that regard will follow this week.

In particular, we again reiterate that University of Galway, as a University of Sanctuary, is a safe place for all and we urge all members of our communities, inside and without our walls, to be the peacemaker, the conciliator, which respects all our diverse histories, voices and views and which forms the basis for a better humanity, exemplified by Nelson Mandela as he walked to freedom from Robben Island.

Kind regards,

Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President University of Galway

Israel - Gaza - 18 October 2023, University President

Recent events in the Middle East have once again highlighted the complex and deeply rooted tensions in the region.  As a community we are appalled by the impact of the conflict in Israel and Gaza.  Acts of terror and violence create a level of collective trauma and personal grief that is hard to comprehend.  And a horrific history happens again. 

With respect, our hearts go out to our Israeli and Palestinian students, colleagues and communities, we open our hearts to their suffering, in excellence we work every day for a better, more peaceful, more just world where communities are sustained by peaceful co-existence and a common humanity. 

We are also shocked by ongoing conflicts in Yemen, Myanmar, Ukraine and Sudan and the awful realisation that at any one time human rights abuses are taking place worldwide.  

These are profoundly difficult times but we stand for peace.  Therefore, this week, we have raised the peace flag in front of our Quadrangle Building.  We do this as an aspiration and a sign that while innocents fall victim to geo-politics, all most of us ever want in our lives is peace. University of Galway shows solidarity and sadness for all victims of violence.  We stand, as President Michael D Higgins has reiterated, for multilateralism and the rule of international law.

As the lyrics currently in our heads from The Cranberries’ Zombie go:

Another mother's breaking
Heart is taking over
When the violence causes silence
We must be mistaken

As a community we focus on our values, particularly the need to respect each other and show kindness.  We encourage our university community to make use of the supports available.  Students can find support through Student Services, the Students’ Union and the International Office.  Staff requiring assistance can do so through Human Resources Employee Services.

University of Galway is a microcosm of the world and we have an opportunity as a university community to show how diverse and different perspectives can coexist peacefully and constructively. 

It has been difficult to find words to make this statement.  I will finish with the final stanzas of a poem ‘The 40 Rules of Engagement’ published originally in Arabic by the Palestinian poet Marzouq al-Halabi, translated into English by Raphael Cohen, which was printedinHa’aretz in 2021:

Envisioning a future
offers protection from a cruel past
from pessimism
and stops you from falling into a pit with your enemy.

Maybe you can’t get back an orange grove
paved in concrete.
but bargain with them over the books
they confiscated,
so that life can continue.

The broader the vision
the more ways out of the confines
of the moment.

History
must remain free
to include a third narrative.

Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh

President University of Galway

Chuir na himeachtaí a tharla le déanaí sa Mheánoirthear béim an athuair ar an teannas casta atá fréamhaithe go domhain sa réigiún.  Mar phobal tá uafás orainn faoin tionchar atá ag an gcoimhlint in Iosrael agus Gaza.  Cruthaíonn gníomhartha sceimhlitheoireachta agus foréigin tráma coiteann agus brón pearsanta atá deacair a thuiscint.  Agus tarlaíonn an stair uafásach an athuair.

Tá an-trua againn dár mic léinn, dár gcomhghleacaithe agus do na pobail Iosraelacha agus Phalaistíneacha, is trua linn a bhfulaingt, déanaimid sárobair gach lá chun domhan níos fearr, níos síochánta agus níos córa a fhorbairt ina gcothaítear pobail a mhaireann taobh le chéile go síochánta i ndaonnacht choiteann.

Tá uafás orainn freisin faoi na coimhlintí atá ar siúl in Éimin, i Maenmar, san Úcráin agus sa tSúdáin agus an tuiscint uafásach go bhfuil mí-úsáid chearta an duine ag tarlú ar fud an domhain ag aon am ar leith. 

Is am thar a bheith deacair é seo ach seasaimid ar son na síochána.  Dá bharr seo tá bratach na síochána ar foluain os comhair na Cearnóige an tseachtain seo.  Déanaimid é seo mar ardmhian agus mar chomhartha gurb í an tsíocháin an t-aon rud atá ón gcuid is mó againn inár saol, cé go mbíonn íospartaigh neamhchiontacha thíos le toradh na geo-pholaitíochta. Léiríonn Ollscoil na Gaillimhe dlúthpháirtíocht agus brón d’íospartaigh uile an fhoréigin. Seasaimid, mar atá ráite ag an Uachtarán Mícheál D. Ó hUiginn, ar son an iltaobhachais agus an dlí idirnáisiúnta.

Tagann liricí an amhráin Zombie de chuid The Cranberries chun cuimhne:

Another mother's breaking

Heart is taking over

When the violence causes silence

We must be mistaken

Mar phobal dírímid ar ár luachanna, go háirithe an gá atá le meas a bheith againn ar a chéile agus cineáltas a léiriú.  Spreagaimid ár bpobal ollscoile le leas a bhaint as na tacaíochtaí atá ar fáil.  Is féidir le mic léinn tacaíocht a fháil trí Sheirbhísí do Mhic Léinn, Comhaltas na Mac Léinn agus an Oifig Idirnáisiúnta.  Is féidir le comhaltaí foirne a dteastaíonn cúnamh uathu é sin a fháil trí Sheirbhísí d’Fhostaithe in Acmhainní Daonna.

Is leagan ionadaíoch den domhan í Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus tá deis againn mar phobal ollscoile a léiriú conas is féidir le peirspictíochtaí ilghnéitheacha agus éagsúla maireachtáil le chéile ar bhealach síochánta agus dearfach. 

Tá sé deacair teacht ar línte chun an ráiteas seo a threisiú.  Críochnóidh mé anseo leis na véarsaí deireanacha den dán ‘The 40 Rules of Engagement’ leis an bhfile Palaistíneach Marzouq al-Halabi a foilsíodh ar dtús in Araibis agus a d’aistrigh Raphael Cohen go Béarla, agus a foilsíodh in Ha’aretz in 2021:

Envisioning a future

offers protection from a cruel past

from pessimism

and stops you from falling into a pit with your enemy.

Maybe you can’t get back an orange grove

paved in concrete.

but bargain with them over the books

they confiscated,

so that life can continue.

The broader the vision

the more ways out of the confines

of the moment.

History

must remain free

to include a third narrative.

An tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh

Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe

Review of links with Israeli and Palestinian institutions and industry

Working Group Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference - Working Group to review Israel and Palestine links

Working Group Report

To come