The University of Pisa has suspended two framework agreements with the Israeli Universities Reichman and Hebrew. The decision was made by the University’s Board of Directors during its meeting on 24 July, following a resolution passed by the Academic Senate on 11 July (full text of the resolution). The process was initiated in response to requests from across the university community and is in line with the new statute, unanimously approved by both the Senate and the Board of Directors in January 2025. According to the statute, the University recognises peace as a fundamental value and “does not support or take part in any activity aimed at the production, development or enhancement of weapons and systems of warfare”.
According to the Board of Directors, the decision—framed as an exceptional measure in response to the grave humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip—is intended as a political message to the Government of Israel, urging an end to hostilities and the start of a just and sustainable peace process.
“This is not a stance against Israeli universities as such. We continue to collaborate with Israeli institutions on projects in areas such as environmental science and neuroscience,” explained Rector Riccardo Zucchi. “The decision is by no means intended to undermine scientific, cultural or personal ties between researchers and students. It is not a blanket rejection of academic cooperation with Israeli universities, but rather an act of ethical and civil responsibility, compelled by what can objectively be described as an ongoing process of ethnic cleansing, and fully aligned with the principles recently enshrined in the University’s updated statute.”
