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In times of conflict, scientific cooperation is often the only remaining link between countries. This can therefore only be terminated in the event of gross violations of human rights or international law. The top Swiss researcher sees no evidence of this at Israeli universities.
In the USA, France, Germany and now also in Switzerland, students are protesting against the war in the Gaza Strip and are calling on their universities to boycott Israeli universities. While the university management in Geneva and Lausanne are negotiating with the students, the two Federal Institutes of Technology in Lausanne and Zurich have threatened the protesters with the police or had them arrested without further ado.
The President of the ETH Board, the supervisory body of technical universities and other institutes, supports this stance in Radio SRF’s “Samstagsrundschau”.
Where, if not at a university, do you have to discuss difficult topics, reflect on them and examine them from different perspectives?
The fact that students want to discuss the war in Gaza and the dramatic humanitarian situation is a legitimate need, says Michael Hengartner. «Where, if not at a university, do you have to discuss difficult topics, reflect on them and examine them from different perspectives? Discussion must take place.”
Hengartner believes dialogue is important
According to Hengartner, there is a difference whether you want to have a discussion or make concrete demands that the university has to fulfill. Universities could not tolerate their mission being hindered or the principles of freedom of research and freedom of expression being violated.
According to the President of the ETH Board, the protest events of the last few days could not have prevented research and teaching. “However, the occupations can be frightening for other students. As a Jewish student, I would also not feel comfortable in the face of slogans that question Israel’s right to exist.”
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The pro-Palestine protests have also reached Switzerland. On May 7th, around 100 students occupied the entrance hall of ETH Zurich and demanded that the institution take a “clear stance on the ongoing genocide in Gaza”.
KEYSTONE/Michael Buholzer
However, the universities must remain in dialogue with the students – for example through panel discussions in which both sides have their say. But political activism in which outsiders participate has no place at universities.
The boycott of collaboration with Israeli researchers, as demanded by the protesters in French-speaking Switzerland – supported by around 200 professors – contradicts the ETH charter, emphasizes Hengartner. Here too it is important to differentiate. One should not condemn the entire country because of decisions that politicians are currently making.
A number of Russian university rectors support the war of aggression against Ukraine. We can no longer work with these institutions.
The President of the ETH Board currently sees no reason to break off research partnerships between Switzerland and Israel. The situation with Russia looks completely different: After the Russian attack on Ukraine, Swissuniversities, the conference of rectors of Swiss universities, called on its members in March 2022 to break off relationships with Russian universities that support the war.
With good reason, says Michael Hengartner: “A number of Russian university rectors have proactively said: ‘We support the war of aggression. We think it’s a good thing that Ukraine is being destroyed. “We can no longer work with these institutions.”
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Universities cannot tolerate their mission being prevented, emphasizes Michael Hengartner, President of the ETH Board. Nevertheless, he believes the discussion surrounding the Gaza war is important.
KEYSTONE/Peter Klaunzer
If an Israeli university were to adopt such an attitude, the relationship would of course have to be examined. However, there is currently no evidence of this.
The President of the ETH Board also points out that research partnerships are often the last remaining bridges between countries in crises. Even during the Cold War, there was research cooperation between East and West, says Michael Hengartner – in certain, but not politically sensitive, areas.