Statement on Nelson Mandela University Senate Resolution Related to the Israel-Palestine Conflict

Senate unanimously supported three elements of the submission:

• The call for an immediate ceasefire and the free flow (unhindered by the IDF and Israeli civilians) of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
• Support for Palestinian academics and students and their institutions, with such support occurring through collaborations with other South African and/or global institutions that have declared their intention to support ‘scholars at risk’.
• Initiating and supporting 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.

Senate, on 6^th March 2024, also resolved that a Senate Working Group be established to review and refine the other proposals in the submission and report back to a special Senate meeting.

The special Senate meeting took place on 6^th May 2024 at which the following set of resolutions, as proposed by the Working Group, was supported.

Senate proposed that the resolutions be read in conjunction with the University’s Vision 2030 strategic plan. In addition, Senate also recommended for the resolutions to be located within the context of South Africa’s own history of Apartheid and its nation-building efforts.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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:

1. Refraining from engaging in academic and cultural cooperation, collaboration, or joint projects with Israeli institutions.
2. Desisting from publishing in or reviewing articles from Israeli-linked academic journals or publishing in collaboration with Israeli institutions.
3. Desisting from serving as external examiners of dissertations associated with Israeli universities and/or Israeli-linked institutions.
4. Desisting from writing recommendations and submitting joint grant applications with/at Israeli universities and/or Israeli-linked institutions.
5. Desisting from enrolling in Israel-linked international faculty teaching and/or student programs, conducting research at and/or with Israeli institutions, or engaging in academic visits or fact-finding undertakings funded by Israel, its complicit institutions, and/or its international lobby groups.

4. Refrain from entering into business negotiations and/or contractual agreements with businesses and/or companies of Israeli origin and/or that are complicit in supporting Israel in oppressing the Palestinian people. This clause should be read in conjunction with clause 8 below.
5. Support Palestinian academics, students, and their institutions, as well as their Israeli counterparts who are committed to working towards a just solution through collaborations with other South African and/or global institutions that have declared their intention to support ‘scholars at risk’.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.

The University Council issued a statement on the Israel-Palestine conflict on 5 December 2023.