We have now reached the third day of protest for the pro-Palestinian students camped on the Sant’Agostino lawn at the University of Bergamo. Today (Wednesday 15 October) the collective invited the rector once again Sergio Cavalieri to join them for an open-door meeting.
The intent is to «discuss the demands, expressed in the motions approved by the student council and supported by the over five hundred signatures collected. The document drawn up by the University and approved during the last Academic Senate is insufficient and does not involve any concrete action to combat the ongoing genocide.”
Requested cancellation of the agreements
Among the main requests, in addition to the condemnation of Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip, there is also that of definitively terminating the research and Erasmus agreements with Israeli universities, «which have an active role in military actions and in the maintenance of the apartheid state.” Furthermore, it is requested that «the University undertakes to no longer make agreements with war companies, since we believe that research should in no way support war, as established by article 11 of our Constitution».
Specifically, the UniBg for Palestine collective wants the agreement with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to be terminated, but also the inter-university Erasmus Extra-EU mobility agreement with the Ort Braude College, which to date has only been suspended, accusing the institution of « collaborate and actively support the Israeli army.” Furthermore, a request is made for the cancellation of the inter-university research agreement with Bar Ilan University (also currently suspended), which “has declared unconditional support for all actions of the Government and the Israeli army”.
Enough relationships with Israeli universities and Leonardo
The University is then asked “not to enter into further agreements with Israeli universities until the human rights of the Palestinian population are guaranteed”. Finally, the group wants the University to make a commitment not to enter into agreements with military institutions and weapons manufacturing companies, such as Leonardo Spa, which has supplied vehicles, military equipment, weapons and ammunition to Israel.
