The University of Antwerp will take legal action against the pro-Palestinian activists who have occupied the establishment for months. Protesters had until 5 p.m. Saturday to leave the building, but remained on campus after that deadline expired.
“The students told me they didn’t want to leave. We will examine next week the legal steps we can take to end the occupation“, said rector Herman Van Goethem.
Since May 13, dozens of activists have occupied a building at UAntwerpen, demanding a total boycott of Israeli academic institutions. Rector Herman Van Goethem interacted with them on several occasions.
“We tolerated the action, but in our view it no longer makes sense because as a university we cannot go any further. In addition, we see that the issue of security on campus risks becoming problematic“, declared Mr. Van Goethem in particular.
On Saturday, protesters sent an email to the rector, saying they wanted to continue their occupation. They believe that, compared to UGent, the University of Antwerp has not gone far enough in severing its ties with Israeli academic institutions. “Where UGent broke its ties, UAntwerpen only suspended them“, we can read in the email.
Activists also deny the existence of security problems and do not understand why the rector is calling for an end to the occupation, while the KULeuven and VUB authorities have no intention of doing so.
Antwerp Uantwerpen University of Antwerp Israel Palestine
