Bar-Ilan University’s Committee to Combat Academic Boycotts

The Committee to Combat Academic Boycotts was established in 2024 by the Bar-Ilan University Senate, in response to growing international efforts to boycott Israeli researchers and institutions. The committee operates under the leadership of the University’s Rector, Prof. Amnon Albeck, in collaboration with Vice President for Internationalization and the Third Mission, Prof. Rivka Tuval-Mashiach. Its goal is to address both overt and covert academic boycotts using effective, data-driven strategies.

The committee focuses on preventing academic boycotts and avoids engaging in current political issues, even those that may appear relevant to the situation.

Key Roles of the Committee

Developing Effective Response Strategies
The committee formulates tailored response protocols for specific boycott incidents, based on extensive field experience and real-time data. These include position papers and communication guidelines for researchers facing hostility abroad. Recommendations are shared with all faculty members and the Senate.

Data Collection and Database Development

• Boycott Incidents: Dynamic documentation of academic boycott events, identification of involved institutions, responses, and outcomes

• Regional Faculty Experts: Establishment of a network of Bar-Ilan faculty with knowledge and connections in key geographical regions or specific universities, available to assist in sensitive academic boycott situations

• Educational Resources: A collection of materials and resources designed to effectively address boycott rhetoric in academic settings

International and Local Collaborations

• Abroad: The committee fosters relationships with like-minded organizations that oppose academic boycotts, particularly in Canada, the U.S., and Europe, and encourages Israeli academics to join such networks

• In Israel: Collaborations include bodies such as the Committee of University Heads (VERA), the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Young Israeli Academy, and government ministries like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs

Supporting International Academic Engagement
The committee encourages faculty to maintain and expand international collaborations, even under boycott pressures, and supports their involvement in global research initiatives.

Internal Support Network
An internal online platform provides faculty with real-time updates, audience-specific training materials, committee member contact information, and tools for navigating boycott-related challenges.

Ongoing Activities and Impact

Since its founding, the committee has acted decisively:

• Assisted in dozens of academic boycott cases

• Provided practical guidance and workshops for faculty traveling abroad

• Built a network of international academic allies fighting boycotts against Israel

• Published dozens of protest and response letters to institutions in Europe and North America

Committee Members (Academic Year 5785 / 2024–2025)

• Prof. Shawn Zelig Aster – Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology

• Prof. Pascale Benoliel – Faculty of Education

• Prof. Itai Bar-Siman-Tov – Faculty of Law

• Prof. Emanuel Dalla Torre – Department of Physics

• Dr. Hanan Herzig-Shinfux – Department of Physics

• Prof. Rivka Tuval-Mashiach – Department of Psychology

A full and updated list of members is available on the Senate website.

Contact

Email: [email protected]

Faculty Website: Includes boycott response guides, event updates, support materials, and more.

Join the Effort

Given the increasing anti-Israel activity on campuses worldwide, the impact of the academic boycott movement can be significant. However, experience shows that even a small group of informed and principled academics can effectively counter these threats.

The committee invites Bar-Ilan faculty and additional academic allies to join the volunteer network supporting this mission. Every action counts—whether sharing updates from your institution, signing petitions, offering help with translations, or simply expressing solidarity.

Your participation not only strengthens our operational capacity but also upholds universal values of academic freedom, pluralism, and open discourse.

To join the committee’s volunteer network, visit the committee's website and click “Join.”