In an interview published on June 16, 2025, in the Dutch daily Trouw, Professor David Harel, President of the Academy, made a strong appeal against the imposition of academic boycotts targeting Israeli institutions in response to government policies.

 

Read the English version (GPT-assisted translation) 

 

Prof. Harel, a renowned computer scientist affiliated with the Weizmann Institute of Science, addressed growing calls within the European Union—and specifically the Netherlands—to reassess research ties with Israel following the war in Gaza. While openly critical of the Israeli government's actions, including the scale of the military campaign and the loss of civilian life, Harel emphasized the need to distinguish between political leadership and the academic community.

 

“If you weaken the academic community, you also weaken the criticism of our government,” he stated.

The interview comes as Dutch universities and EU policymakers debate the future of collaborative programs such as Horizon Europe. Harel warns that severing such ties would not only harm scientific progress but also silence the very researchers who continue to speak out against injustice and advocate for democratic values.

 

Harel also addressed misconceptions regarding the role of Israeli universities in the defense sector, arguing that research institutions are largely funded through public and philanthropic sources, and that scientific collaboration—especially in medicine, environment, and technology—serves global interests.