( JTA)– Harvard University revealed that it would stop briefly a research study collaboration with Birzeit University, a Palestinian school, following public pressure, the Harvard Crimson reported recently.
The choice to suspend ties with the West Bank University comes as pro-Palestinian activists at schools throughout the United States and the world have actually long gotten in touch with their schools to sever ties with Israel. In 2022, the Crimson’s editorial board backed an Israel boycott, and its college student union did the same in November 2023, soon after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
In the wake of Oct. 7, a parallel project at Harvard has actually gotten in touch with the school to end a public health-oriented collaboration with Birzeit. The project was backed by previous Harvard President Larry Summers along with Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Harvard alum who has actually vocally condemned pro-Palestinian demonstrations and school antisemitism.
Hamas assistance on West Bank school
The Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance called Birzeit “terrorist-supporting,” pointing out examples of appreciation for Hamas on school along with a circumstances when an Israeli Jewish press reporter for Haaretz was asked to leave the school.
Last summer season, the Harvard School of Public Health introduced an internal evaluation into the collaboration, which was in between the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Being Rights (FXB) and Birzeit, and chose to stop briefly the program. The evaluation committee will launch a last report in the coming weeks.
Harvard’s choice comes as institution of higher learnings throughout the nation, along with their trainees, face increased analysis from the Trump administration over policing antisemitism on their schools. Previously this month, the Department of Education corresponded to 60 universities, consisting of Harvard, informing them of examinations into supposed antisemitism on their schools.
As it stops briefly the program at Birzeit, Harvard is because of grow its ties with Israel. In January, as part of 2 settlements with Jewish groups declaring the school had actually promoted an antisemitic environment, Harvard vowed to partner with an Israeli university.
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