The motion also provides for the renewal of the request for the release of the hostages and for a ceasefire in Gaza
March 29, 2024
The Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, recalling in full the contents of the motion approved by the Academic Senate on 28 November 2023, “strongly renews, also in light of the UN resolution of 25 March 2024, the demand for the release of the hostages and an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in order to avoid the further worsening of a now desperate humanitarian situation, which every day becomes more and more an unacceptable form of collective punishment of the Palestinian population”.
Following that motion, and in line with its consolidated commitment in the ‘Scholars At Risk’ network, the School decided – we read on the website – as the first concrete demonstration of solidarity and to encourage dialogue in the Middle East, to announce two research grants on topics relating to the study of the context and conflict of Israel and Palestine“particularly addressed to Palestinian and Israeli scholars at risk of physical safety” or “who see their academic freedom compromised”.
“Today, in circumstances of exceptional and growing gravity, the Scuola Normale Superiore believes it is called, together with the entire international scientific community, not only to concretely attest its solidarity, but also to reflect critically on a wide range of the ramifications of its work ” explains a press release.
“To this end the Scuola Normale:
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affirms the need to inspire research and teaching activities to respect the art. 11 of the Constitution of the Italian Republic, which prescribes the repudiation of war as an instrument of offense against the freedom of other peoples and as a means of resolving international disputes;
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undertakes, in line with the constitutional provisions, to exercise the utmost caution and diligence in evaluating institutional agreements and proposals for scientific collaboration that may relate to the development of technologies that can be used for military purposes and the implementation of forms of oppression, discrimination or aggression to the detriment of the civilian population, as is currently happening in the Gaza Strip;
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initiates procedures to ensure that these principles have full expression in the School’s regulations, integrating or modifying them where necessary;
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asks the MAECI and the MUR to assure the scientific community that all tenders and projects promoted by them to encourage industrial, scientific and technological cooperation with other states strictly respect the constitutional principles, with particular reference to art. 11;
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asks the MAECI, in light of the principles mentioned above, to reconsider the “2024 Scientific Notice” issued on 21 November 2023 in implementation of the Italy-Israel industrial, scientific and technological cooperation agreement”.
“The Scuola Normale Superiore also: undertakes to promote discussion and dialogue between all the components of its community on the developments of the situation in Palestine by asking the Director to convene a general assembly dedicated to the topic by the end of April and to encourage other initiatives; gives the Director the mandate to act as spokesperson in every institutional setting, and in particular at the MUR, the MAECI and the CRUI, of the positions expressed in this motion; orders the publication of the text of the motion on the School’s website as well as its dissemination through the School’s other media channels”.
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