First sign of academic boycott: Turin University suspends collaboration with Israel

University rector insists vote passed by academic senate is not antisemitism or a boycott of Israel after decision limited to only some cooperation agreements
The University of Turin in Italy announced a suspension of all collaboration agreements with Israeli academic and research institutes but rejected calls for a broader cessation of ties with Israeli universities.
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תמונות של ראשי ממשלת איטליה וישראל נצבעו באדום. הפגנת סטודנטים נגד ישראל בטורינו
תמונות של ראשי ממשלת איטליה וישראל נצבעו באדום. הפגנת סטודנטים נגד ישראל בטורינו
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Turin
(Photo: Marco Bertorello / AFP)

In a vote last week, the university's Senate agreed only to suspend the “Italy-Israel industrial, scientific and technological cooperation agreement,” despite pressure from students supporting the Palestinians calling for at least nine collaborations to be included.
University rector Stefano Geuna said the decision was not a boycott of Israel or an act of antisemitism and that collaboration with Israeli universities would continue. “All the agreements currently in force with Israeli universities, and there are many, remain valid,” Geuna said.
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מחאת סטודנטים בטורינו נגד ישראל
מחאת סטודנטים בטורינו נגד ישראל
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Turin
(Photo: Marco Bertorello / AFP)
Turin University's decision raised concern in the Italian Jewish community
Noemi Di Segni, president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities said she was worried about the flood of antisemitism on university campuses and called on the Italian government to "ensure that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism is fully implemented by all Italian universities, making it abundantly clear that all forms of boycott and demonization are antisemitism.”
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