5 days ago
Top Irish University to cut future ties with Israeli institutions
Trinity College Dublin is to divest from new arrangements with Israeli universities, firms and institutions.
The board of the prestigious Dublin University, home to over 20,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, made the decision to divest from Israeli links yesterday.
Pro-Palestinian activists have called on other Irish universities to follow suit. Last May, students formed an encampment at Trinity in protest against a € 214,285 fine imposed on the students' union after a series of demonstrations regarding fees and rent, as well as the university's ties to Israel. Pic: AFP via Getty Images
Following engagement with the protesters, the college dropped the fine and said it would complete a divestment from Israeli companies that have activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and appear on the UN blacklist.
The students dismantled the camp after Trinity said it would 'endeavour' to divest in other Israeli companies, noting that its supplier list contains just one Israeli company, which remained in place until March this year for contractual reasons.
Yesterday, Trinity's board received a report from a task force set up last October to examine academic and institutional links, including with Israel. Trinity College, a top university in Dublin City. Pic: Shutterstock
Although the report is to return to the board later this year for its final consideration, based on 'the strength of the evidence shared', the board accepted the report's recommendations.
This included recommendations that the college enter into no Erasmus, collaborative research or supply agreements with Israeli universities, institutions or firms.
Meanwhile, aid sites in the Gaza Strip were temporarily closed yesterday, with Israel's army warning roads leading to distribution centres were 'considered combat zones'. Pic: Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images
The announcement by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation follows a string of deadly incidents near its aid sites centres, including one Tuesday, in which 27 people were killed when Israeli troops opened fire near a GHF site.
Yesterday, the UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said: 'Yesterday alone, dozens were declared dead at hospitals after Israeli forces said they had opened fire.
'This is the outcome of a series of deliberate choices that have systematically deprived two million people of the essentials they need to survive.'
He echoed the call by UN chief Antonio Guterres for immediate independent investigations, saying they were not isolated incidents, and the perpetrators must be held accountable.
'No-one should have to risk their life to feed their children,' said Fletcher.
