University of Amsterdam says pro-Palestinian protests caused €1.5 million in damage
The University of Amsterdam (UvA) estimated that this week's pro-Palestinian demonstrations caused a cumulative total of 1.5 million euros in damage. Damage caused to municipal property and to neighboring companies and individuals was not included in this estimate, the university said. The UvA will reopen its buildings on Monday, which were closed for four days due to the protests.
The UvA said there was "significant damage" as the result of the protests on the Roeterseiland campus and the other UvA city center campus locations, Oudemanhuispoort and Binnengasthuis. It is not yet clear whether the university wants to try to recover damages from the demonstrators. The university said it is "in consultation with various parties" to determine "whether and how these damages can be recovered." A decision will be announced later.
The protests started on Monday afternoon. The demonstrators made three demands to the university, and the Vrije Universiteit (VU) and Amsterdam University College: transparency about collaborations with Israeli institutions and companies, to sever all ties with Israeli institutions that participate in "genocide, apartheid and exploitation of the Palestinian people and their land," as well as breaking any deals with companies that benefit from this.
The UvA has published an overview of all collaborations with Israeli science groups, which the university said was already publicly available information. The UvA stated that it is very cautious about limiting institutional and individual collaborations.
"We see the collaboration with individual Israeli employees, provided that the nature of the collaboration is in line with our academic mission, as an opportunity to maintain an open line even in times of war and conflict, so-called science diplomacy," the university wrote on its. “Severing or suspending all ties also means severing relationships with researchers who often represent the critical voice in Israel.”
Parool published an opinion piece on Saturday, signed by 103 students and employees of the UvA and the VU. The signatories, Jewish and Israeli students, said they no longer feel safe in many situations at the universities. They wrote that they find it difficult to understand how adhering to the protestors' demand of a boycott of all Israeli institutions actually "promotes the future for Palestinians and Israelis."
Lectures and researchers can continue again at UvA from Monday, the university announced on Saturday. Their buildings were closed because of the protest actions. "We sincerely hope that they can remain open," the UvA said in a statement. "Education and research must be given space again, but it is essential that we also continue to talk to each other about the feelings of anger and powerlessness, and about the war in Gaza."
The UvA Board said it will talk to various groups within the university in the coming weeks. "Let us all continue to listen, offer each other the freedom to ask questions without hindrance and be critical, be curious and debate," the UvA said. "With respect for everyone's input, background and beliefs and free from intolerance. Demonstrations are also allowed - but without face coverings, blockades, overnight stays or intimidation."
The university emphasized that it is doing everything it can to ensure that the UvA is a place where people can work and study safely. “We are committed to supporting everyone affected by the events.”
The Royal Academy of Art (KABK) in The Hague announced on Friday it suspended ties with an Israeli educational institute following demands from the KABK Student Union. This is the first educational institution in the Netherlands that is known to have cut ties with an Israeli institution after student demands.
