The Institute of Political Studies (IEP) of Strasbourg suspends its collaboration with the Reichman University of Tel Aviv, regretting its positions “deeply aggressive and devoid of any humanistic perspective” in view of “The ongoing war in Gaza”. This decision, revealed by BFM-TV on Tuesday, October 29 and confirmed by the regional newspaper The latest news from Alsace (DNA), was taken during a meeting of the establishment’s board of directors on June 25, but the minutes of which have just been published on its website.
The motion was presented by the Solidarit’Etudiants list, which has eight of the ten student representation positions on the board of directors, and was also supported by some teachers. The director of the IEP, Jean-Philippe Heurtin, expressed his “very strong reserve” regarding this proposal.
However, this decision was approved by 12 votes to 7 with 2 abstentions, and 12 administrators did not participate in the vote. While condemning “without reservation the terrorist attack suffered by the Israeli population on October 7, 2023”The authors of the motion denounce the “Positions of the university in question, deeply harsh and devoid of any humanist, pacifist and critical perspective regarding the ongoing war in Gaza”.
“The active participation of this university in a conflict that led to the massacre of tens of thousands of civilians, women and children, is in contradiction with the humanist values claimed by Sciences Po Strasbourg”they insist.
According to Jean-Philippe Heurtin, the collaboration between the Reichman University of Tel Aviv and the IEP of Strasbourg “currently not active” AND “No student will be sent to Israel or Lebanon before the end of hostilities”.
