We have received a response from senior management to this letter, you can read it below.

Add your signature https://forms.office.com/e/bYYH9WvDC6

We are writing to demand that the University of St Andrews sever its links with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) and all other Israeli universities in light of the ongoing genocide in Gaza. While these links have been in place for sometime, we were alerted to them when, on 26 May 2025, some members of the University of St Andrews received an email notifying them that the university was part of a network called the Global Universities for Societal Impact which includes HUJ as a participating institution. 

For over twenty years, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) has been calling for a boycott of Israeli universities to protest Israel’s occupation of Palestine which has long been considered a violation of international law.[1] This demand assumes intensified urgency in light of the complete destruction of Gaza’s university system and the targeting of its academics, a process that has been described as ‘scholasticide’. Israeli universities are deeply complicit in the processes that entrench Israel’s settler colonialism, military occupation and apartheid in Palestine. As the Israeli academic Maya Wind has demonstrated, scholarship produced by Israeli universities – particularly in the fields of law, philosophy, ethics, archaeology, history, criminology and area studies – has consistently furthered Israeli settler colonialism. Israeli universities are deeply embedded in the country’s military-industrial complex, helping to develop leading weapons companies such as Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, whose products are used daily to perpetrate genocide in Gaza. Israeli university campuses are strategic outposts for Israel’s territorial and demographic project, functioning as engines of ‘Judaization’ that fuel further Jewish Israeli settlement and employment on Palestinian land.[2]

HUJ exemplifies many of these tendencies. As Israeli economist Shir Hever (amongst many others) notes, HUJ is built on occupied land in East Jerusalem.[3] In May 2022, Israeli authorities approved plans to build 1600 new settlement units in East Jerusalem to expand the premises of the university.[4] HUJ currently hosts the elite Havatzalot programme which enables soldiers in the Military Intelligence Directorate to acquire regional and linguistic expertise in Middle Eastern Studies while undergoing military training. Soldiers live and train on the campus in a space designated as a military base while using university infrastructure alongside civilian students.[5] In 2020, Palestinian students at the university made a short film depicting the intolerability of university life amidst such militarisation, with soldiers strolling around campus and snipers stationed on the roof of university buildings. As they put it, ‘In the library, they sat next to us. At the checkpoints, they humiliate our families! On one hand they drink coffee with us, on the other hand they point a rifle at us.’[6]

Given these conditions, it is inappropriate for the University of St Andrews to be hosting joint programmes with HUJ such as the two year masters in the Study of Judaism and Christianity. It is inconceivable that Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students with an intellectual interest in such subjects would be able to participate in such programmes in ways that are consonant with their wellbeing. The de facto non-availability of such programmes to these students clearly violates the University of St Andrews’ professed commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion.

It is additionally clear that HUJ does not support the work of its own Palestinian faculty. In April 2024, leading Palestinian legal scholar Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian – who is the Lawrence D. Biele Chair in Law at HUJ and Global Chair in Law at Queen Mary University of London – was arrested over comments made on a podcast a month earlier. Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian was strip-searched, handcuffed, denied access to food, water and medication for several hours, and held in conditions that her lawyers described as ‘terrible’ and designed to humiliate.[7] More than 100 faculty members of HUJ published an open letter backing her and criticising their own university for not supporting her. Many noted that HUJ had itself fuelled months of political attacks on one of their own faculty in the run-up to her detention, with the Rector demanding her resignation in late 2023 after she signed a letter calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and describing Israel’s campaign there as a genocide; she was also briefly suspended from the university over the podcast cited as the reason for her arrest.

The email of May 2025 informing us of the existence of the Global Universities for Societal Impact, which includes both the University of St Andrews and HUJ as participating institutions, stated that ‘one of the network’s initial aims is to explore opportunities for research collaboration across a broad range of disciplines connected to Artificial Intelligence’. In April 2024, Israeli journalists relying on information from six Israeli intelligence officers who had all served during the current war on Gaza, reported on the extensive use of an AI programme called ‘Lavender’ to prepare kill lists of people alleged to be members of Hamas and other Palestinian militant organisations, who were marked out for assassination. Operating with minimal human oversight and with an unconscionable tolerance for ‘collateral’ casualties of up to 15–20 (and often more) civilians per military target, the system identified 37,000 Palestinians as targets and proceeded to eliminate them in their homes along with entire families.[8] Given the well documented use of AI in the ongoing genocide in Gaza, it is frankly heinous for the University of St Andrews to invite research collaboration in the field of AI with Israeli universities at this time.

The severing of links with Israeli universities would not be without recent precedent. Within two weeks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the University of St Andrews announced that it had suspended its joint masters programme with Moscow State University and had divested from Russian holdings. While this suspension appears to have been effected at the behest of the UK government of the day, the university is not precluded from adopting a morally consistent approach in its response to global conflicts. Indeed given its much vaunted commitment to a global orientation, it seems incumbent upon a Global St Andrews to value human life and flourishing equally across the globe.

Please note that in compiling this information, we have relied almost entirely on Israeli sources because University of St Andrews management has on previous occasions sought to discredit communications that have relied on Palestinian sources. The signatories to this letter in no way endorse such a hierarchy of sources.

Add your signature https://forms.office.com/e/bYYH9WvDC6

[1] https://bdsmovement.net/pacbi/pacbi-call.

[2] Maya Wind, Towers of Ivory and Steel: How Israeli Universities Deny Palestinian Freedom (London: Verso, 2024). 

[3] Shir Hever, ‘Economy of the Occupation’, Academic Boycott of Israel and the Complicity of Israeli Academic Institutions in Occupied Palestinian Territories, No. 23 (October 2009), Alternative Information Centre, 37–8. 

[4] Qassam Muaddi, ‘Israel approves 1600 settlement units in Jerusalem as Bennett says “no foreign intervention” on Al-Aqsa’, The New Arab, 11 May 2022, https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-approves-1600-settlement-units-jerusalem.

[5] Wind, Towers of Ivory and Steel, 50–54.

[6] https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=393273021567639. See also Oren Ziv, “Palestinian students battle militarization of Hebrew University”, +972 Magazine, May 27, 2020, https://www.972mag.com/palestinian-students-militarization-hebrew-university/.

[7] Emma Graham-Harrison and Quique Kierszenbaum, ‘“Political arrest” of Palestinian academic in Israel marks new civil liberties threat’, Guardian, 26 April 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/26/political-arrest-palestinian-academic-nadera-shalhoub-kevorkian-israel-civil-liberties-threat.  

[8] Yuval Abraham, ‘“Lavender”: The AI machine directing Israel’s bombing spree in Gaza’, +972 Magazine, April 3, 2024, https://www.972mag.com/lavender-ai-israeli-army-gaza/.

Signed By: (Please note, signatures are added in batches, so won’t show up automatically)

1. Rahul Rao, Reader, School of International Relations

2. Ryan Swan, PhD Candidate, School of International Relations

3. Muireann O’Dwyer, Lecturer, School of International Relations

4. Sage Wilson, student, Psychology & Anthropology

5. Ellie Oates

6. Savannah Whaley, Associate Lecturer, School of English

7. Uri Horesh, Lecturer, School of Modern Languages 

8. Dr Katharina Hunfeld, Associate Lecturer in International Relations 

9. Emily Finer, Senior Lecturer, Modern Languages

10. Siow Yong Hui Martin, Student, School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies

11. Charlotte Bitcon, Student, Social Anthropology and Theological Studies

12. Professor Stephen Reicher, School of Psychology and Neuroscience

13. Anisha, undergraduate, former School of English president,

14. Q Manivannan, PhD Candidate, School of International Relations 

15. Vlada Vazheyevskyy MRes student, GloPost graduate assistant.

16. Emama Khan, Student, School of Modern Languages 

17. Catherine Cobham, Lecturer retired, Dept of Arabic and Persian, School of Modern Languages

18. Dr Talitha Kearey, Lecturer in Latin Literature, School of Classics

19. Lathikka, Student, School of IR

20. Camilo Ardila, Associate Lecturer, School of International Relations

21. Stefania Lisai, Associate Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Statistics

22. FK

23. Shona McCallum, student and former Co-President of Amnesty International St Andrews, Schools of Modern Languages and IR, Class of 2025

24. Amaya Brooks, Alum, International Relations

25. Elise Lambert, student, Schools of Modern Languages and of English

26. Anindya Raychaudhuri, Senior Lecturer, School of English

27. Anna McCulloch, School of Divinity 

28. Dr Viviane Saglier, Lecturer, PAFS

29. Rebecca Tozer, undergrad student, school of modern languages

30. Edith Oborne, student of history and Arabic at St Andrews

31. Sophie O'Neil, Undergraduate Student, school of geography and sustainable development

32. Rifat Nabulsi, student, School of Physics 

33. Abinash Elanggumar, student, School of Mathematics

34. Tabitha Lawson, Student, Art History and French 

35. Annabel Bartsch, Undergraduate, School of Moden Languages

36. Estelle Woodrow, student, school of psychology

37. Adam Nanabhay, 2nd year, mathematics and philosophy 

38. Yue Wang school of history 

39. Yuzuki Siffre, Student of the University of St Andrews

40. A Kanthiapillai, Undergraduate Student, School of Physics and Astronomy

41. Abdullah Alahmari, PhD Candidate, Modern Languages

42. Nyx Linford, undergraduate student, School of Biology 

43. Ingrid Yeung, Undergraduate Student, School of Philosophy and School of International Relations

44. Rebecca Long, postgraduate student, School of Maths

45. Yasemin Gülsüm Acar, Lecturer, School of Psychology and Neuroscience

46. Aimée Capraro, Undergraduate Student, School of Modern Languages

47. Daniela Alvarez Gallo, PhD Student, Geography and Sustainable Development

48. Victoria Lee, student

49. Henry Blogg, Student, School of Computer Science

50. Rebecca Zammit Pace

51. Ibrahim Morris, Student, School of Mathematics and Statistics

52. abigail Elkan, student, school of international relations and the school of sustainable development 

53. Michael Logue, Astrophysics PhD student, School of Physics and Astronomy

54. Israa Aljaish- Postgraduate Administrator. School of anthropology, film studies and philosophy

55. Laura Márquez Navas, undergraduate student in Social Anthropology. School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies.

56. Ciara Wheeler, undergrad, School of English and Business School

57.  Alqassim Hamidaddin, student almuni, school of philosophical, anthropological, and film studies 

58. Christopher Anaforian, PhD Candidate, School of Classics and History

59. Harry MullineauxSanders, PhD Student, School of Physics and Astronomy

60. Vindhya Buthpitiya, Lecturer, PAFS

61. Sufyan Elmansuri, Student, School of Computer Science 

62. Tom Jones, Professor, School of English

63. Sarah Caldwell, 3rd year, St. Andrews

64. Zoe Bremner, Community Relations Officer, School of Modern Languages

65. Vida White, recent graduate, school of international relations

66. Rémi Fritzen school of physics and astronomy 

67. Daniel Dawson, NMR Spectroscopist, School of Chemistry

68. Silvia Paracchini, Professor, School of Medicine

69. Erin McCauley

70. Poppy Harris, Undergraduate Student (Philosophy and Theology)

71. Paddy Adamson, Associate Lecturer, PAFS

72. Claire Stevens, PhD student, school of biology 

73. Hsinyen Lai, Associate Lecturer, School of International Relations

74. Anette, student, Modern Languages & PAFS

75. Michelle Otudeko, student, business 

76. Ava Gomez, student, School of English

77. Saher Kumar, Student, English Literature & Philosophy

78. Fraser Gemmell, Student, International Relations Undergraduate

79. Mohammed Yousif, Undergraduate, School of Medicine

80. Niamh Jardine

81. Natalia Hernandez Somarriba / Phd Student / School of Modern Languages

82. Gabriel Mougey, student, school of medicine

83. Charlotte Farrar, alumna, International Relations and Russian

84. Lucia Assadi

85. Amartya Panwar, Graduate, School of Physics and Astronomy

86. Luke Robinson, Vice President of the St Mary's College Society, Outreach Officer for the University of St Andrews Catholic Society, School of Divinity

87. Carmella Neal, 2025 Graduate of English and Art History 

88. Stefan Faaland, PhD Student, School of Mathematics and Statistics

89. Stella Maris, Rector and President, University Court

90. Kim Jessica Wahnke, International Relations & Sustainable Development

91. Dr Laura Mills, Lecturer, School of International Relations, 

92. Greta Zakelyte, student, School of International Relations 

93. Kaitlyn Mann, Postgraduate student, School of English

94. Alex Barton / student / school of mathematics 

95. Callisto Lodwick, undergraduate, School of Classics and English 

96. Bleddyn, Student, Chemistry & Mathematics 

97. Iris pope, student, school of english

98. Ale Boussalem, Lecturer, School of Geography and Sustainable Development

99. Marsh Howell, student, English literature 

100. Flora Ridsdill Smith, ScotGEM medical student

101. Malaka Shwaikh, School of International Relations

102. Sandro Eich, PhD Researcher, School of English

103. Serena Mirisola

104. Paul Chester

105. Fiona McManus, Graduate school of IR

106. Siavush Randjbar-Daemi (Senior Lecturer in Modern Middle Eastern History, School of History)

107. Talia Gold, recent graduate, School of IR

108. Saff Coskun, student, School of Psychology and Neuroscience

109. Blair Harbour, Postgraduate Student, SEES

110. Dr Kiron Ward, Lecturer, English

111. Hananah

112. Dr. Zehra Kazmi (Graduate Teaching Assistant, School of English)

113. Rosa Campbell, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, School of English

114. Catherine Spencer, Senior Lecturer, School of Art History

115. John Sykes

116. Kate Cowcher, Lecturer, School of Art History

117. Valeria O'Neill, Undergraduate, Schools of English & Social Anthropology

118. Dr Natasha Saunders, Lecturer, School of International Relations

119. Javier Argomaniz, Senior Lecturer, School of IR

120. Roxani Krystalli, Senior Lecturer, School of International Relations

121. Shambhawi Tripathi, School of IR

122. Andrew Milne, PhD candidate, IR

123. Keshab Giri, Lecturer, School of International Relations

124. Norma Rossi School of International Relations

125. Bridget Bradley, Lecturer in Social Anthropology

126. Andrei Artimof, Computing Officer, St Andrews Business School

127. Hania Khattab, student, Social Anthropology

128. Sanjay Seth, Professor, School of International Relations

129. Dr Jules Skotnes-Brown, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Social Anthropology

130. Ruby Payne

131. Jeffrey Stevenson Murer, Senior Lecturer on Collective Violence, School of International Relations

132. Leshu Torchin, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies (PAFS)

133. Sarah Frankowski

134. Yussef Shafik Minessy, incoming 4th year student, schools of history and economics

135. Prof Fiona McCallum Guiney, School of International Relations

136. Calum Cook, School of Psychology and Neuroscience

137. Hannah Goozee, Associate Lecturer, School of International Relations

138. Madeleine Rea

139. Kieran O’Meara, PhD Candidate, School of International Relations

140. Kathryn Fredricks, Lecturer, School of Geography and Sustainable Development

141. Delia Burns, PhD Student, School of International Relations

142. Muxi Li, Undergraduate, English and Comparative Literature 

143. Aliya Trovoada, Student, School of Art History

144. Adham Saouli, Professor, School of International Relations 

145. Claire Hertzfeld, student, School of Psychology 

146. Scott Sambrook, Student, Chemistry

147. Mike Arrowsmith, Computer Officer, School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies

148. Paul Gorby, School of International Relations

149. Jessica Gerschultz, Lecturer of Contemporary Art History (Asia, Middle East, North Africa), School of Art History 

150. ruby wright, student, management 

151. Sally Mubarak, PhD researcher, School of Classics

152. Dr Thomas Reid, Alumnus, School of Modern Languages

153. Raheel Zaidi, Student, School of Medicine 

154. Francesca Salibra, PhD, School of Classics

155. Annabel Crawshaw-Brown, PhD student, School of Classics

156. Dimitrios Katsaounis, St Leonard's Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics

157. Haya Al-Nuaimi, PhD student, School of International Relations 

158. Stefano Parrinello, PhD Candidate, School of Classics

159. Rebecca Supple, PhD Student, School of Mathematics and Statistics

160. Callum Barber, PhD Student, School of Mathematics and Statistics

161. Dörte Behrens, phd student, school of mathematics

162. Jo Sharp, Professor of Geography, Geography & Sustainable Development

163. Miki O'Connell, Student, School of Modern Languages

164. Thara, Student, Business School

165. Chenoa Beedie, student, SGSD 

166. Rui Borges, Lecturer in Statistics, School of Mathematics and Statistics

167. Ziad Elmarsafy, Professor of Arabic and Comparative Literature, School of Modern Languages

168. Dugald Macfarlane, Graduate (BSc Physics), Physics and Astronomy

169. Rosalind Anderson, student, school of Geography

170. Samuel Richter, Postgraduate Student, School of History

171. Thomas Sayner, PhD candidate, School of Physics and Astronomy 

172. David Anderson, PhD Candidate, School of IR

173. Carl Donovan, Research statistician, School of Mathematics and Statistics 

174. Dr Kalliopi Gkikopoulou, Research Fellow, Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology

175. Kieran McConaghy, Lecturer, School of International Relations

176. Hayley McLennan, PhD candidate, School of Biology

177. Chris Morris, School of Biology

178. Rene Swift, PDRA, School of Biology

179. India Haber, Staff, Biology 

180. Isabel Seguí (Lecturer, Film Studies)

181. Fergal Harte, student, Playwriting & Screenwriting MFA, University of St Andrews

182. Paul Wensveen

183. Melissa Ramsay, PhD Student, School of Biology 

184. Rory Beaton

185. Clara Ortiz Alvarez, PhD student, School of Biology

186. Aidan Naughton, School of Mathematics and Statistics

187. GJ Morgan, PhD Student, Department of Mediaeval History, School of History 

188. Malcolm Petrie, Senior Lecturer, School of History

189. Janet C.E. Watson, Honorary Professor, School of Modern Languages

190. Gill Plain, Professor, School of English

191. Peter Bothwell, PhD student, School of IR 

192. Dr Althea Davies, Senior lecturer, School of Geography & Sustainable Development

193. Duncan Adamson, Lecturer, School of Computer Science

194. Amber Bourke, PhD Student and GTA, School of History 

195. Carole Elliott, Professor of Leadership Development, Business School

196. Professor Ross Brown

197. Kate Khair, MA student of Intellectual History, School of History 

198. Natalie Adamson, Professor, School of Art History

199. Andrew Cusack, Senior Lecturer, Modern Languages

200. Dr Kirsty Ross, Industrial Liaison, School of Computer Science

201. Tiago A. Marques, Principal Research Fellow, CREEM/School of Mathematics and Statistics

202. Tanja van Mourik, Reader, School of Chemistry

203. Anita Ferrari, student, maths and economics

204. Jennie Wang, Alumni, International Relations and PAFS

205. Evie Connolly, Post-graduate taught student, Social Anthropology 

206. Julia Avancena, 3rd Year Student, School of Medicine

207. Angela Amlin, PhD Candidate, School of Biology

208. Peter Mackay, School of English

209. Dr Patrick O'Hare, Senior Researcher, Social Anthropology, University of St Andrews

210. Nicôle Meehan, Lecturer in Museum and Heritage Studies

211. Emily Dale, Student, School of International Relations and School of Classics

212. Jair Gabriel Triana-Pequeno, PhD candidate, School of Chemistry 

213. Aisling Crean, Associate Lecturer (Metaphysics and Mind), School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies/Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of English

214. Mina Ardani

215. Ioanna Maria Pateli

216. Bill Shackman, Assistant Chaplain

217. SeoJin Kim

218. Lucy Turton, Phd Candidate and Tutor, School of English

219. Prof Sascha Hooker, School of Biology

220. Lucy Donaldson, Senior Lecturer, Film Studies (PAFS)

221. Derek Ball, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy

222. Laurence Skinner, Education Liaison Officer, Admissions

223. Swithun Crowe, Research Software Engineer, ITS

224. Tatiana Dimitriu, University Research Fellow, School of Biology

225. Li Veiros, PhD candidate, School of Biology

226. Joseph Millum, Senior Lecturer, Department of Philosophy

227. Dr Ralph Anderson, Lecturer in Ancient History, School of Classics

228. Thomas Green, PhD student, school of Biology

229. Jesse Gardiner, Head of Russian, School of Modern Languages

230. Dr Hannah Dean, Lecturer Business School

231. Lisa Petit 

232. Daniel Hosford, Student, School of Physics and Astronomy

233. Waleed Manssour/Student/School of Physics and Astronomy 

234. Samuel Dickinson, student, English, St. Andrews

235. Elsje van Kessel, Art History

236. Sophie Berry, Student, School of English 

237. Jessica Mulvogue, Lecturer in Film Studies, PAFS

238. Chloe Lawson, Senior Teaching Administrator, School of Philosophy, Social Anthropology, and Film Studies/School of Psychology and Neuroscience

239. Mihaela Denkovska, Research Administrator, School of Psychology and Neuroscience

240. Priyatam Dutta, PhD Student, School of Medicine

241. Niall Sreenan, Lecturer in Comparative Literature

242. George Marwan Vayanos, 2nd Year Student, Bachelor of Science (Honours) Mathematics and Physics

243. Fabio Caiani, Senior Lecturer, Modern Languages

244. Kathryn Herschell, postgraduate in the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Studies / School of Art History, and member of staff

245. Regina Zaycheva 

246. Clement Kwok, MLitt graduate, School of Philosophy, Anthropology, and Film Studies

247. Liz Dempster, student, School of Computer Science

248. Camila Gomez, Student, Department of Social Anthropology

249. Mars Lee, BSci Chemistry Student

250. Catherine Burbage-Atter, Student, School of History and Divinity 

251. Ondrej Mucha, Student, School of Chemistry

252. Noa Afolayan, Yr 3, School of Chemistry 

253. George Adesola, Student, School of Chemistry

254. Clara Défachel, PhD Candidate, School of Modern Languages

255. Pauline Souleau, Lecturer in French, School of Modern Languages

256. Emily Savage, Lecturer, School of Art History

257. Dr Paola Ruffo, Teaching Assistant, School of Modern Languages

258. Lucrezia Milillo, PhD, Department of Social Anthropology

259. Rebecka Rehnström, PhD student, Department of Social Anthropology

260. Cecilia McCallum, Professorial Fellow, Anthropology, The School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies

261. Mark Collins, Research fellow in anthropology at St Andrews University; Chercheur associé au Credo (Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, EHESS); https://www.mark-collins.eu

262. Cristian Erazo Romero, PhD student, Department of Social Anthropology

263. Alberto Carrascon, PhD student, School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies

264. Luke McGinty, PhD student, Social Anthropology

265. Blair Barnett-Johnston, MRes Candidate, Philosophy 

266. Cameron Dickie, PhD Candidate, School of Philosophical, Anthropological and Film Studies

267. Giulia Schirripa (PhD student, School of Philosophical, Anthropological, and Film Studies)

268. Marta Bax, PhD student, Department of Philosophy at St. Andrews 

269. Connor Jennings PhD Candidate, Social Anthropology 

270. Miriam Bowen, Associate Lecturer, Department of Philosophy

271. Renée Ravindranath, Student 

272. Temi Adekoya-Adeniyi,Student,N/A,School of Business

273. Iona Carruth, student, University of St Andrews 

274. Freya Pereira, MLitt Student, School of History

275. Sarah Lietzenmayer, GSIS Postgraduate

276. Agnes Brenna, student, St Andrews University 

277. Teema Siddiki, First Year Student, St Andrews

278. Maryam Sheikh, Undergraduate Student, School of Psychology and Neuroscience

279. Jessica Black, Mlitt Peacebuilding and Mediation, School of IR

280. Clara Maréchal, undergraduate, School of Classics

281. Sadie Wort, student, school of English and Modern Languages 

282. Josh McCallum. Student. University of St Andrews

283. Sumiran Margolis, student, SGSD

284. Lewis Willcox, PhD Researcher, School of History 

285. Daniel Hirschel-Burns, Associate Lecturer, School of International Relations

286. Quinn Bouabsa Marriott, PhD Student, Department of Mediaeval History, School of History 

287. Eleanor Thomas, MA English and Spanish, 5th year 

288. Lila Driscoll

289. Lahari Thati, Student, Philosophy and Psychology

290. Kübra Dilekoglu, PhD Candidate, School of IR

291. Scarlett (student, School of International Relations)

292. Emily Orton, Art History 

293. Sarah, student, English

294. Prisha Jain, Student, English and Comparative Literature

295. Theus De'Ath

296. Estela Gonzalez Pacios, student, school of international relations

297. Jadd Mihell-Mufti, Undergraduate, School of Modern Languages

298. Caitlin Conway, Student, School of Modern Languages and School of English

299. Clara McDonald

300. Mattia Fumanti, Social Anthropology

301. Dr Jo Hale, Senior Lecturer, School of Geography & SD

302. Cailean Gallagher, Associate Lecturer, Business School

303. Hanna Sabu, Undergrad, School of IR 

304. Mohammed Alshurafa, lecturer in accounting, Business School

305. Ilinca Vanau, PhD student, Film Studies 

306. Alex Flagg, PhD Candidate, Art History

307. Peter Coote, Lecturer, School of Biology

308. Ewan Jenkins, PhD Candidate, School of Geography and Sustainable Development

309. Mrs A Macfarlane

310. Jim Jin, retired, business school

311. Stella Pfeifer

312. Delyth Hughes, Student, Philosophy

313. Vic Priestner, Student, Social Anthropology

314. Norah Elrafei, Student, School of English and Social Anthropology 

315. Ellen MacDonald, Student, School of History

316. Julia Prest, Professor of French and Caribbean Studies

317. Damien Lacourarie, PGT, Social Anthropology 

318. Lorna Stevenson, Professor of Accounting & Society, Department of Management

319. Grace Belanger, undergraduate student, English and Social Anthropology

320. Abdul Rahman, PhD student, School of Modern Language

321. Anna Di Bona, MLitt, Philosophy 

322. Anonymous, student, Philosophy Dept

323. Eliza O’Keefe, student, Schools of English and Modern Languages

324. Ananya Darshan, physics student and lab assistant

325. Ramona Kirkham, undergraduate student, school of english

326. Alexander Martin, Postgrad, Graduate School

327. Suri Soto Yanez, student of IR and Modern Languages 

328. Cosmo Billing, Student, Social Anthropology

329. Rosalind Trinder, Student, Medieval History

330. benet reid, lecturer, management dept -- busyness school

331. Celina Chen, Undergraduate Student, International Relations and Social Anthropology

332. Kabir Rao, Student, Department of Philosophy

333. Alex Mackie, Undergraduate, School of Modern Languages

334. Ewan Riddell, Undergraduate final year Student, School of Physics and Astronomy

335. Jordan Clark, PhD Candidate, School of History

336. Isabella Karmis, Undergraduate, School of International Relations and Film Studies 

337. Arden Griffin, Student

338. Aneesa Mohammed, Year 3 Medical Student, School of Medicine 

339. Ella Ho, Undergraduate, School of Biology

340. Anna Alexiadou, Student, School of Medicine

341. Maeve O'Sullivan, Student, School of Modern Languages

342. Yuna Chow

343. Ollie Chadina, student, School of Biology

344. Isabella Lennon, medical student 

345. Summer Cominato, Student, International Relations

346. Moira McBride, Student, School of History and Modern Languages

347. Katie Stewart, Undergraduate, School of Physics and Astronomy

348. Félix Sanz Martín, First Year Representative, Philosophy and Physics

349. Joseph Lyall, undergraduate, school of physics and astronomy

350. Alex Yoo, undergraduate, Social Anthropology

Response from Senior Management:

Here is the response:

The University of St Andrews recognises the depth of feeling, anguish, and moral concern that underpins the open letter calling on the University to sever links with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) and other Israeli universities. The scale of human suffering in Gaza is profound and distressing. We unequivocally affirm the equal value of all human life, our concern for civilians in Gaza and Israel alike, and our support for efforts to secure an immediate and durable cessation of violence.

At the same time, the University has a responsibility to act with intellectual integrity, consistency, and fidelity to its core academic values. We do regularly discuss core academic values with our counterparts in Israeli universities and elsewhere, including the HUJ, and when issues arise, as with the issues brought up in the open letter calling for ties to be severed with Israeli universities, share them openly and frankly. After careful consideration, we do not believe that a blanket severing of academic ties with Israeli universities is consistent with those responsibilities. Below we address the principal arguments raised in the open letter.

1. Academic Boycotts and the Role of Universities

Universities are not instruments of governments. They are among the few spaces in deeply divided societies where dissent, critique, and pluralism can and do exist. Israeli universities, including HUJ, contain scholars and students who actively challenge state policies, oppose the war in Gaza, and work with Palestinian colleagues in pursuit of justice, peace, and mutual recognition.

Academic boycotts risk silencing precisely those voices and institutions that sustain debate, critique, and opposition. They also undermine academic freedom by imposing collective punishment on scholars and students on the basis of nationality or institutional affiliation rather than individual conduct. For these reasons, the University of St Andrews has consistently resisted calls for academic boycotts as a general principle, including in other global conflicts.

Engagement does not imply endorsement. It reflects a belief that dialogue, scrutiny, and collaboration, especially in difficult times, are more ethically defensible than disengagement and isolation.

2. Comparison with Russia and Ukraine

The comparison drawn with the University’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine requires clarification. In 2022, the Russian Rectors’ Conference publicly endorsed the invasion of Ukraine, explicitly aligning Russian universities with the actions of the state. This constituted a collective institutional position in support of a war of aggression. By contrast, Israeli universities have not adopted such a stance. On the contrary, numerous Israeli university leaders, including the rector of the HUJ, have publicly criticised the conduct of the war in Gaza and called for restraint, humanitarian access, and political solutions.

The distinction is therefore not one of selective morality, but of materially different institutional behaviour. The University of St Andrews does not regard the situations as analogous in governance or academic terms.

3. The Global Universities for Societal Impact Network and AI Research

Participation in international networks does not entail unconditional collaboration, nor does it override ethical review processes. Any research collaboration undertaken by St Andrews, particularly in sensitive areas such as artificial intelligence, is subject to rigorous ethical scrutiny, legal compliance, and institutional oversight.

The University does not support, participate in, or condone the development of technologies for unlawful harm to civilians. Our internal review processes for research collaborations and funding regularly assess projects with ethical and legal considerations at the forefront. Engagement in AI research is not synonymous with military application, and disengagement from Israeli universities would not meaningfully constrain the use of AI in warfare. What it would do is remove opportunities for ethical challenge, critical scholarship, and the development of norms governing responsible use.

4. The Case of Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian

Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian took early retirement last year and is no longer employed by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. While the University acknowledges that her case was painful and controversial, several points require correction and balance. Professor Shalhoub-Kevorkian publicly associated the university with statements made shortly after the 7 October attacks that were deeply offensive to many members of the HUJ community at a time of acute trauma. Subsequently, remarks made in a podcast were widely interpreted as denying that sexual violence occurred on 7 October.

The HUJ leadership publicly distanced itself from those statements and responded proportionately, seeking to balance freedom of expression, community wellbeing, and public safety. No formal disciplinary proceedings were initiated, her employment was not terminated, and when she was later arbitrarily detained by Israeli authorities, the HUJ publicly supported her.

It is also relevant that the HUJ suspended a Jewish professor for an entire semester following involvement in conflict with Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. These cases underscore the difficulty, not the absence, of their institutional commitment to academic freedom, ethical standards, and non-violence.

To strengthen this commitment, the HUJ has since established a Freedom of Expression Committee to develop clearer guidance that protects free speech while encouraging mutual respect and sensitivity. Imperfect responses in moments of crisis should not be misrepresented as institutional complicity or repression.

5. Claims of Campus Militarisation

Characterising HUJ as a “militarised campus” is a significant and misleading exaggeration. Out of a student body of over 20,000, several hundred students are in active military service and study as part of their service contracts. They are typically uniformed but unarmed. Some reserve soldiers may occasionally attend classes in uniform, sometimes carrying personal weapons, reflecting broader Israeli social realities during periods of conflict. Israel has a system of compulsory military service, and they cannot discriminate against students lawfully enrolled in classes and in uniform. 

Approximately 20% of HUJ students are Palestinian. Despite the potential for tension, campus life by all accounts is generally calm and inclusive, with very few incidents related to the conflict. HUJ cannot lawfully exclude students on the basis of military status, nor discriminate against those fulfilling compulsory service obligations.

While it is understandable that some students may feel discomfort, the campus is not a military base, and it remains a shared academic space for Jewish, Palestinian, and international students alike.

6. Allegations Regarding Land, Settlements, and East Jerusalem

The claim that HUJ is built on “occupied land” requires factual clarification. The Mount Scopus campus was purchased legally in the 1910s, prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, and the University was founded in 1918. The campus has been continuously owned by the University since that time. Its legal status is widely recognised internationally as part of Israel, not as territory occupied in 1967. International bodies, including the European Research Council, which does not fund research in occupied territories, regularly support research conducted on the Mount Scopus campus.

The HUJ also owns nearby lots used for student dormitories and a sports centre. These were acquired through private donations between 1938 and 1947 and have been continuously owned since. They serve Jewish, Palestinian, and international students alike and do not constitute settlements under international law.

Claims regarding the construction of settlement housing are not substantiated by evidence linking such plans to the University, which does not engage in settlement planning or construction.

7. Inclusion, Wellbeing, and Joint Academic Programmes

The University of St Andrews takes seriously its obligations to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Joint programmes with partner institutions are reviewed carefully to ensure that they are academically sound, ethically defensible, and accessible.

We have seen no evidence that Palestinian, Arab, or Muslim students are systematically excluded from participation in HUJ programmes, nor that HUJ fails to support Palestinian students as a group. Discomfort arising from the wider political context, while real, does not equate to institutional discrimination.

The University of St Andrews rejects antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and all forms of collective blame. We also reject the premise that severing academic ties is an effective or ethical response to war and political violence.

Our commitment is to sustained engagement, rigorous ethical scrutiny, protection of academic freedom, and the creation of spaces where difficult conversations can take place across deep divides. Universities must not mirror the logic of conflict; they must resist it.

We remain open to dialogue with members of our community who hold differing views and are committed to ongoing reflection on how the University can contribute, through scholarship, education, and engagement, to peace, justice, and human dignity for all.