Resolution – 6 May 2024
Believing that the worsening situation in Gaza and the urgency of taking measures to achieve lasting peace, places a responsibility on all academic institutions to respond to this ongoing crisis.
Senate therefore resolved to:
Support the call for an immediate ceasefire and the free flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, unhindered by the Israeli Defence Force and Israeli civilians.
Demand the return of captured civilians and political prisoners who have not been found guilty of any gross human rights violations by impartial courts of law on either side.
Support a comprehensive and consistent boycott of Israeli academic institutions and academics who may be proved to be complicit in supporting Israel in oppressing the Palestinian people, as called for by progressive Palestinian and Israeli academics. This entails:
Refraining from engaging in academic and cultural cooperation,
collaborations with other South African and/or global institutions that have declared their intention to support ‘scholars at risk’.
Leverage the research, teaching, and engagement capabilities of the university in conflict transformation to contribute to measures to transform the conflict in Israel-Palestine to achieve lasting peace.
Initiate and support the development of discussions, workshops, seminars and other similar events across the university, to discuss and debate the Palestinian question with a view of bringing greater awareness about the relevant historical and contextual issues relating to all human rights and just struggles, including that of the Palestinian people.
Request the University to conduct an audit to ascertain the specific details relating to collaboration with Israeli academic institutions as well as any agreements between the University and Israeli funders, Israeli-owned businesses and/or companies and institutions proved to be complicit in supporting Israel in oppressing the Palestinian people. This is necessary to ensure effective targeting of the identified companies to mitigate potential disruptions in services and mitigation of potential risks to the academic project resulting from these measures.
Furthermore, Senate resolved that these actions, once supported, will remain in place until the Palestinian struggle is resolved. While we undertake a principled stance against affected complicit individuals and organisations in Israel, we envisage a greater role for the involvement of South Africa in the conflict, given the experience of the country in constructing a common nation in the context of extreme historical hostilities.
In conclusion, as a University, we are encouraged to be in service of society, to exemplify the legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
