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We are writing to demand that the University of St Andrews sever its links with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) and all other Israeli universities in light of the ongoing genocide in Gaza. While these links have been in place for sometime, we were alerted to them when, on 26 May 2025, some members of the University of St Andrews received an email notifying them that the university was part of a network called the Global Universities for Societal Impact which includes HUJ as a participating institution.
For over twenty years, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has been calling for a boycott of Israeli universities to protest Israel’s occupation of Palestine which has long been considered a violation of international law.[1] This demand assumes intensified urgency in light of the complete destruction of Gaza’s university system and the targeting of its academics, a process that has been described as ‘scholasticide’. Israeli universities are deeply complicit in the processes that entrench Israel’s settler colonialism, military occupation and apartheid in Palestine. As the Israeli academic Maya Wind has demonstrated, scholarship produced by Israeli universities – particularly in the fields of law, philosophy, ethics, archaeology, history, criminology and area studies – has consistently furthered Israeli settler colonialism. Israeli universities are deeply embedded in the country’s military-industrial complex, helping to develop leading weapons companies such as Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, whose products are used daily to perpetrate genocide in Gaza. Israeli university campuses are strategic outposts for Israel’s territorial and demographic project, functioning as engines of ‘Judaization’ that fuel further Jewish Israeli settlement and employment on Palestinian land.[2]
HUJ exemplifies many of these tendencies. As Israeli economist Shir Hever (amongst many others) notes, HUJ is built on occupied land in East Jerusalem.[3] In May 2022, Israeli authorities approved plans to build 1600 new settlement units in East Jerusalem to expand the premises of the university.[4] HUJ currently hosts the elite Havatzalot programme which enables soldiers in the Military Intelligence Directorate to acquire regional and linguistic expertise in Middle Eastern Studies while undergoing military training. Soldiers live and train on the campus in a space designated as a military base while using university infrastructure alongside civilian students.[5] In 2020, Palestinian students at the university made a short film depicting the intolerability of university life amidst such militarisation, with soldiers strolling around campus and snipers stationed on the roof of university buildings. As they put it, ‘In the library, they sat next to us. At the checkpoints, they humiliate our families! On one hand they drink coffee with us, on the other hand they point a rifle at us.’[6]
Given these conditions, it is inappropriate for the University of St Andrews to be hosting joint programmes with HUJ such as the two year masters in the Study of Judaism and Christianity. It is inconceivable that Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students with an intellectual interest in such subjects would be able to participate in such programmes in ways that are consonant with their wellbeing. The de facto non-availability of such programmes to these students clearly violates the University of St Andrews’ professed commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion.
It is additionally clear that HUJ does not support the work of its own Palestinian faculty. In April 2024, leading Palestinian legal scholar Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian – who is the Lawrence D. Biele Chair in Law at HUJ and Global Chair in Law at Queen Mary University of London – was arrested over comments made on a podcast a month earlier. Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian was strip-searched, handcuffed, denied access to food, water and medication for several hours, and held in conditions that her lawyers described as ‘terrible’ and designed to humiliate.[7] More than 100 faculty members of HUJ published an open letter backing her and criticising their own university for not supporting her. Many noted that HUJ had itself fuelled months of political attacks on one of their own faculty in the run-up to her detention, with the Rector demanding her resignation in late 2023 after she signed a letter calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and describing Israel’s campaign there as a genocide; she was also briefly suspended from the university over the podcast cited as the reason for her arrest.
The email of May 2025 informing us of the existence of the Global Universities for Societal Impact, which includes both the University of St Andrews and HUJ as participating institutions, stated that ‘one of the network’s initial aims is to explore opportunities for research collaboration across a broad range of disciplines connected to Artificial Intelligence’. In April 2024, Israeli journalists relying on information from six Israeli intelligence officers who had all served during the current war on Gaza, reported on the extensive use of an AI programme called ‘Lavender’ to prepare kill lists of people alleged to be members of Hamas and other Palestinian militant organisations, who were marked out for assassination. Operating with minimal human oversight and with an unconscionable tolerance for ‘collateral’ casualties of up to 15–20 (and often more) civilians per military target, the system identified 37,000 Palestinians as targets and proceeded to eliminate them in their homes along with entire families.[8] Given the well documented use of AI in the ongoing genocide in Gaza, it is frankly heinous for the University of St Andrews to invite research collaboration in the field of AI with Israeli universities at this time.
The severing of links with Israeli universities would not be without recent precedent. Within two weeks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the University of St Andrews announced that it had suspended its joint masters programme with Moscow State University and had divested from Russian holdings. While this suspension appears to have been effected at the behest of the UK government of the day, the university is not precluded from adopting a morally consistent approach in its response to global conflicts. Indeed given its much vaunted commitment to a global orientation, it seems incumbent upon a Global St Andrews to value human life and flourishing equally across the globe.
Please note that in compiling this information, we have relied almost entirely on Israeli sources because University of St Andrews management has on previous occasions sought to discredit communications that have relied on Palestinian sources. The signatories to this letter in no way endorse such a hierarchy of sources.
Add your signature https://forms.office.com/e/bYYH9WvDC6
[1] https://bdsmovement.net/pacbi/pacbi-call.
[2] Maya Wind, Towers of Ivory and Steel: How Israeli Universities Deny Palestinian Freedom (London: Verso, 2024).
[3] Shir Hever, ‘Economy of the Occupation’, Academic Boycott of Israel and the Complicity of Israeli Academic Institutions in Occupied Palestinian Territories, No. 23 (October 2009), Alternative Information Centre, 37–8.
[4] Qassam Muaddi, ‘Israel approves 1600 settlement units in Jerusalem as Bennett says “no foreign intervention” on Al-Aqsa’, The New Arab, 11 May 2022, https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-approves-1600-settlement-units-jerusalem.
[5] Wind, Towers of Ivory and Steel, 50–54.
[6] https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=393273021567639. See also Oren Ziv, “Palestinian students battle militarization of Hebrew University”, +972 Magazine, May 27, 2020, https://www.972mag.com/palestinian-students-militarization-hebrew-university/.
[7] Emma Graham-Harrison and Quique Kierszenbaum, ‘“Political arrest” of Palestinian academic in Israel marks new civil liberties threat’, Guardian, 26 April 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/26/political-arrest-palestinian-academic-nadera-shalhoub-kevorkian-israel-civil-liberties-threat.
[8] Yuval Abraham, ‘“Lavender”: The AI machine directing Israel’s bombing spree in Gaza’, +972 Magazine, April 3, 2024, https://www.972mag.com/lavender-ai-israeli-army-gaza/.
Signed By: (Please note, signatures are added in batches, so won’t show up automatically)
Rahul Rao, Reader, School of International Relations
Ryan Swan, PhD Candidate, School of International Relations
Muireann O’Dwyer, Lecturer, School of International Relations
Sage Wilson, student, Psychology & Anthropology
Ellie Oates
Savannah Whaley, Associate Lecturer, School of English
Uri Horesh, Lecturer, School of Modern Languages
Dr Katharina Hunfeld, Associate Lecturer in International Relations
Emily Finer, Senior Lecturer, Modern Languages
Siow Yong Hui Martin, Student, School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies
Charlotte Bitcon, Student, Social Anthropology and Theological Studies
Professor Stephen Reicher, School of Psychology and Neuroscience
Anisha, undergraduate, former School of English president,
Q Manivannan, PhD Candidate, School of International Relations
Vlada Vazheyevskyy MRes student, GloPost graduate assistant.
Emama Khan, Student, School of Modern Languages
Catherine Cobham, Lecturer retired, Dept of Arabic and Persian, School of Modern Languages
Dr Talitha Kearey, Lecturer in Latin Literature, School of Classics
Lathikka, Student, School of IR
Camilo Ardila, Associate Lecturer, School of International Relations
Stefania Lisai, Associate Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Statistics
FK
Shona McCallum, student and former Co-President of Amnesty International St Andrews, Schools of Modern Languages and IR, Class of 2025
Amaya Brooks, Alum, International Relations
Elise Lambert, student, Schools of Modern Languages and of English
Anindya Raychaudhuri, Senior Lecturer, School of English
Anna McCulloch, School of Divinity
Dr Viviane Saglier, Lecturer, PAFS
Rebecca Tozer, undergrad student, school of modern languages
Edith Oborne, student of history and Arabic at St Andrews
Sophie O'Neil, Undergraduate Student, school of geography and sustainable development
Rifat Nabulsi, student, School of Physics
Abinash Elanggumar, student, School of Mathematics
Tabitha Lawson, Student, Art History and French
Annabel Bartsch, Undergraduate, School of Moden Languages
Estelle Woodrow, student, school of psychology
Adam Nanabhay, 2nd year, mathematics and philosophy
Yue Wang school of history
Yuzuki Siffre, Student of the University of St Andrews
A Kanthiapillai, Undergraduate Student, School of Physics and Astronomy
Abdullah Alahmari, PhD Candidate, Modern Languages
Nyx Linford, undergraduate student, School of Biology
Ingrid Yeung, Undergraduate Student, School of Philosophy and School of International Relations
Rebecca Long, postgraduate student, School of Maths
Yasemin Gülsüm Acar, Lecturer, School of Psychology and Neuroscience
Aimée Capraro, Undergraduate Student, School of Modern Languages
Daniela Alvarez Gallo, PhD Student, Geography and Sustainable Development
Victoria Lee, student
Henry Blogg, Student, School of Computer Science
Rebecca Zammit Pace
Ibrahim Morris, Student, School of Mathematics and Statistics
abigail Elkan, student, school of international relations and the school of sustainable development
Michael Logue, Astrophysics PhD student, School of Physics and Astronomy
Israa Aljaish- Postgraduate Administrator. School of anthropology, film studies and philosophy
Laura Márquez Navas, undergraduate student in Social Anthropology. School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies.
Ciara Wheeler, undergrad, School of English and Business School
Alqassim Hamidaddin, student almuni, school of philosophical, anthropological, and film studies
Christopher Anaforian, PhD Candidate, School of Classics and History
Harry MullineauxSanders, PhD Student, School of Physics and Astronomy
Vindhya Buthpitiya, Lecturer, PAFS
Sufyan Elmansuri, Student, School of Computer Science
Tom Jones, Professor, School of English
Sarah Caldwell, 3rd year, St. Andrews
Zoe Bremner, Community Relations Officer, School of Modern Languages
Vida White, recent graduate, school of international relations
Rémi Fritzen school of physics and astronomy
Daniel Dawson, NMR Spectroscopist, School of Chemistry
Silvia Paracchini, Professor, School of Medicine
Erin McCauley
Poppy Harris, Undergraduate Student (Philosophy and Theology)
Paddy Adamson, Associate Lecturer, PAFS
Claire Stevens, PhD student, school of biology
Hsinyen Lai, Associate Lecturer, School of International Relations
Anette, student, Modern Languages & PAFS
Michelle Otudeko, student, business
Ava Gomez, student, School of English
Saher Kumar, Student, English Literature & Philosophy
Fraser Gemmell, Student, International Relations Undergraduate
Mohammed Yousif, Undergraduate, School of Medicine
Niamh Jardine
Natalia Hernandez Somarriba / Phd Student / School of Modern Languages
Gabriel Mougey, student, school of medicine
Charlotte Farrar, alumna, International Relations and Russian
Lucia Assadi
Amartya Panwar, Graduate, School of Physics and Astronomy
Luke Robinson, Vice President of the St Mary's College Society, Outreach Officer for the University of St Andrews Catholic Society, School of Divinity
Carmella Neal, 2025 Graduate of English and Art History
Stefan Faaland, PhD Student, School of Mathematics and Statistics
Stella Maris, Rector and President, University Court
Kim Jessica Wahnke, International Relations & Sustainable Development
Dr Laura Mills, Lecturer, School of International Relations,
Greta Zakelyte, student, School of International Relations
Kaitlyn Mann, Postgraduate student, School of English
Alex Barton / student / school of mathematics
Callisto Lodwick, undergraduate, School of Classics and English
Bleddyn, Student, Chemistry & Mathematics
Iris pope, student, school of english
Ale Boussalem, Lecturer, School of Geography and Sustainable Development
Marsh Howell, student, English literature
Flora Ridsdill Smith, ScotGEM medical student
Malaka Shwaikh, School of International Relations
Sandro Eich, PhD Researcher, School of English
Serena Mirisola
Paul Chester
Fiona McManus, Graduate school of IR
Siavush Randjbar-Daemi (Senior Lecturer in Modern Middle Eastern History, School of History)
Talia Gold, recent graduate, School of IR
Saff Coskun, student, School of Psychology and Neuroscience
Blair Harbour, Postgraduate Student, SEES
Dr Kiron Ward, Lecturer, English
Hananah
Dr. Zehra Kazmi (Graduate Teaching Assistant, School of English)
Rosa Campbell, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, School of English
Catherine Spencer, Senior Lecturer, School of Art History
John Sykes
Kate Cowcher, Lecturer, School of Art History
Valeria O'Neill, Undergraduate, Schools of English & Social Anthropology
Dr Natasha Saunders, Lecturer, School of International Relations
Javier Argomaniz, Senior Lecturer, School of IR
Roxani Krystalli, Senior Lecturer, School of International Relations
Shambhawi Tripathi, School of IR
Andrew Milne, PhD candidate, IR
Keshab Giri, Lecturer, School of International Relations
Norma Rossi School of International Relations
Bridget Bradley, Lecturer in Social Anthropology
Andrei Artimof, Computing Officer, St Andrews Business School
Hania Khattab, student, Social Anthropology
Sanjay Seth, Professor, School of International Relations
Dr Jules Skotnes-Brown, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Social Anthropology
Ruby Payne
Jeffrey Stevenson Murer, Senior Lecturer on Collective Violence, School of International Relations
Leshu Torchin, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies (PAFS)
Sarah Frankowski
Yussef Shafik Minessy, incoming 4th year student, schools of history and economics
Prof Fiona McCallum Guiney, School of International Relations
Calum Cook, School of Psychology and Neuroscience
Hannah Goozee, Associate Lecturer, School of International Relations
Madeleine Rea
Kieran O’Meara, PhD Candidate, School of International Relations
Kathryn Fredricks, Lecturer, School of Geography and Sustainable Development
Delia Burns, PhD Student, School of International Relations
Muxi Li, Undergraduate, English and Comparative Literature
Aliya Trovoada, Student, School of Art History
Adham Saouli, Professor, School of International Relations
Claire Hertzfeld, student, School of Psychology
Scott Sambrook, Student, Chemistry
Mike Arrowsmith, Computer Officer, School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies
Paul Gorby, School of International Relations
Jessica Gerschultz, Lecturer of Contemporary Art History (Asia, Middle East, North Africa), School of Art History
ruby wright, student, management
Sally Mubarak, PhD researcher, School of Classics
Dr Thomas Reid, Alumnus, School of Modern Languages
Raheel Zaidi, Student, School of Medicine
Francesca Salibra, PhD, School of Classics
Annabel Crawshaw-Brown, PhD student, School of Classics
Dimitrios Katsaounis, St Leonard's Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics
Haya Al-Nuaimi, PhD student, School of International Relations
Stefano Parrinello, PhD Candidate, School of Classics
Rebecca Supple, PhD Student, School of Mathematics and Statistics
Callum Barber, PhD Student, School of Mathematics and Statistics
Dörte Behrens, phd student, school of mathematics
Jo Sharp, Professor of Geography, Geography & Sustainable Development
Miki O'Connell, Student, School of Modern Languages
Thara, Student, Business School
Chenoa Beedie, student, SGSD
Rui Borges, Lecturer in Statistics, School of Mathematics and Statistics
Ziad Elmarsafy, Professor of Arabic and Comparative Literature, School of Modern Languages
Dugald Macfarlane, Graduate (BSc Physics), Physics and Astronomy
Rosalind Anderson, student, school of Geography
Samuel Richter, Postgraduate Student, School of History
Thomas Sayner, PhD candidate, School of Physics and Astronomy
David Anderson, PhD Candidate, School of IR
Carl Donovan, Research statistician, School of Mathematics and Statistics
Dr Kalliopi Gkikopoulou, Research Fellow, Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology
Kieran McConaghy, Lecturer, School of International Relations
Hayley McLennan, PhD candidate, School of Biology
Chris Morris, School of Biology
Rene Swift, PDRA, School of Biology
India Haber, Staff, Biology
Isabel Seguí (Lecturer, Film Studies)
Fergal Harte, student, Playwriting & Screenwriting MFA, University of St Andrews
Paul Wensveen
Melissa Ramsay, PhD Student, School of Biology
Rory Beaton
Clara Ortiz Alvarez, PhD student, School of Biology
Aidan Naughton, School of Mathematics and Statistics
GJ Morgan, PhD Student, Department of Mediaeval History, School of History
Malcolm Petrie, Senior Lecturer, School of History
Janet C.E. Watson, Honorary Professor, School of Modern Languages
Gill Plain, Professor, School of English
Peter Bothwell, PhD student, School of IR
Dr Althea Davies, Senior lecturer, School of Geography & Sustainable Development
Duncan Adamson, Lecturer, School of Computer Science
Amber Bourke, PhD Student and GTA, School of History
Carole Elliott, Professor of Leadership Development, Business School
Professor Ross Brown
Kate Khair, MA student of Intellectual History, School of History
Natalie Adamson, Professor, School of Art History
Andrew Cusack, Senior Lecturer, Modern Languages
Dr Kirsty Ross, Industrial Liaison, School of Computer Science
Tiago A. Marques, Principal Research Fellow, CREEM/School of Mathematics and Statistics
Tanja van Mourik, Reader, School of Chemistry
Anita Ferrari, student, maths and economics
Jennie Wang, Alumni, International Relations and PAFS
Evie Connolly, Post-graduate taught student, Social Anthropology
Julia Avancena, 3rd Year Student, School of Medicine
Angela Amlin, PhD Candidate, School of Biology
Peter Mackay, School of English
Dr Patrick O'Hare, Senior Researcher, Social Anthropology, University of St Andrews
Nicôle Meehan, Lecturer in Museum and Heritage Studies
Emily Dale, Student, School of International Relations and School of Classics