Science and knowledge are universal human achievements and endeavours, the results of
which belong to mankind as a whole. The international scientific community has long
cherished and upheld its values of neutrality, objectivity and universality. Scientific, research
and other educational institutions, be it in Europe or elsewhere, are therefore rightfully
focused on their stated goals of promoting knowledge and science, which, in theory, lie
outside political debates.
In recent years and months, however, a most disturbing double standards has surfaced
across the scientific spectrum: the oft-called “Palestine exception”. While research
institutions have, at different times of history, not shied from taking political stances,
including condemning invasions (Russia in Ukraine, e.g.) or despicable terrorist attacks on
civilians, they have remained conspicuously silent on the unfolding genocide in Gaza.
Why such double standards?
The genocide is no longer in doubt. Multiple UN organisms or Special Rapporteurs have
qualified it as such, as have numerous human rights NGOs, including in Israel itself, and
leading scholars on genocide. The ICC has charged B. Netanyahu and Y. Gallant with
crimes against humanity. A man-made famine is under way in Gaza before the eyes of the
world, and the Israeli government has openly announced its intention of invading and
occupying the Gaza strip, in contradiction to every legal, moral or political principle.
Yet Israel, a country openly and actively committing a genocide, is a member of many
august scientific institutions, such as CERN.
Such membership at this time does a disservice to science, to these scientific institutions,
as it serves to legitimise a discourse of scientific and educational normality when a genocide
is happening.
Israel is brazenly flouting international law: But supporting and abetting the crimes against
humanity committed by Israel are themselves international crimes, which will without
doubt require accountability in due time.
Europe, and the world at large, have long accepted the obligation to respect and uphold
international human rights law: The European Union and all its institutions, including its
research and scientific organs, are legally and morally bound by this obligation, and should
not shy away from it at this most dire time.
We therefore urge scientific and research institutions to suspend Israel’s membership until
its policies and actions are consistent with international law and the values the scientific
community, and the world at large, hold dear.
International scientific cooperation is meaningless as long as a member State is actively
committing crimes which not only shock the conscience of mankind, but undermine the
very idea of an international community.
As academics, we are gravely concerned for the Palestinians who face extinction, by
bombing, starvation or expulsion, above all; but we are also concerned about the very soul
of science and its hope of universal communication, which now seem to lie in the shattered
ruins of Gazan universities and research labs.
ASWP, August 2025