Students at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) have set up a permanent camp and blockade at the entrance to the Book of Kells, in protest against the university’s ongoing relationship with Israel. They insist that these actions will persist until their demands are met. The cause of their dissatisfaction is the university’s Endowment Fund, which has stakes in a number of Israeli businesses, including three that are blacklisted by United Nations body tasked with human rights issues, for engaging in business activities within illegally established settlements. László Molnárfi, president of the TCD Students’ Union (TCDSU), has revealed through Freedom of Information (FoI) documents that the university’s endowment fund has made investments in 13 Israeli companies. Three of these are featured on a 2020 list by the United Nations Human Rights Council, specifying companies that have participated in illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territory claimed as occupied. Some of the companies, namely Bank Leumi, Shapir Engineering and Energix Renewable Energies are accused of offering services or using resources that directly support the continuation or establishment of these settlements. These companies fall under the umbrella of TCD’s “Climate Focused Fund” investment.
The FoI records shed light on various business alliances between TCD and ten Israeli vendors, which include entities like 3D Lasertec, Enspire Science, Mediclever, and Beacon Tech. Furthermore, these records give insight into the academic affiliations that TCD maintains with Israel, a point of contention for the protesting public who demand severance of academic links with Israeli institutions.
The FoI records hint about collaboration agreements between TCD’s School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies and the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Studies and partners from Israel such as the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan. These ties permit the exchange of students and staff among the institutions.
Notably, TCD is also in association with numerous EU-sponsored research initiatives linking it with Israeli organisations. This includes joining hands with Tel Aviv University for the Expert medical research project, an initiative funded under the European Union’s Horizon scheme. This project is concerned with employing mRNA-based nanomedicines for diseases like cancer and cardiac conditions. Moreover, TCD is also carrying out research associated with the immune sensing and signalling race in conjunction with the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.
When assessed against other academic entities, Galway University stands out as a commendable example in response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, according to Mr Molnárfi. Earlier this year, Galway University’s president, Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, spoke of the devastation of educational institutions in Gaza and the fatal attacks on students and academics by Israeli forces as “grievous”. He pledged to bolster ties with universities in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem while simultaneously reassessing the university’s relationship with Israeli institutions.
Meanwhile, several other institutions like the University College Cork saw students leaving en masse recently, demanding public declarations in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza. Similar demonstrations have been observed globally in countries like the US, Switzerland, Canada, and Australia. However, Mr Molnárfi insists that TCD still has not fully divested from Israel, as the union’s resolution for boycotts, divestments, and sanctions require.
Protesters have urged Trinity College Dublin (TCD) to sever all connections with Israeli institutions and businesses and express a clear declaration of solidarity against the ongoing genocide, infrastructural damage, settler colonialism, apartheid, and occupation of Palestine.
Additionally, the activists are urging TCD to promise to provide “reparations” and fully support 100 Palestinian scholars to complete their studies at the institution.
What is TCD’s position regarding its ties with Israel?
TCD has acknowledged that it is concerned about the severe onslaught in Gaza and the persisting severe humanitarian crisis.
TCD has said that it has been proactively responding to the Gaza war via various measures, including revising its investment portfolio with the intent of removing UN blacklisted companies and support for Gaza students studying at Trinity, according to a spokesperson.
Additionally, TCD’s provost Dr Linda Doyle announced that revisions to the university’s investment portfolio would refer to the UN blacklist. She clarified, however, that Trinity does not directly select companies, but rather, these decisions are made by investment managers.
When it comes to academic ties, Ms Doyle explained that some people within TCD want all relationships with Israeli institutions to be eliminated, while others see merit in preserving the open exchange of ideas.
According to Ms Doyle, some individuals would feel deeply uncomfortable maintaining any form of relationship. Importantly, the individual academic has the prerogative to make these choices without any political implications being derived from them, she added.
She stressed that she does not want to witness an erosion of academic freedom in the Irish context, akin to what has occurred in other nations.