Newsletter - November 2025
LEIDEN SCHOLARS FOR PALESTINE
Newsletter - November 2025
By Leiden Scholars for Palestine • 10 November 2025
Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to inform you that FNV Leiden University has agreed to our call for a members meeting to discuss our demand for an academic boycott. This and more news in this newsletter.
In this newsletter:
- FNV members meeting
- No update on Horizon collaborations since July 2025
- Take action against genocide in Sudan
- Wij werken hier niet aan mee
- Upcoming events
FNV members meeting
Monday, November 17, 17:30
Lipsius 0:19
FNV has worked out a draft of demands and an escalation ladder towards a strike. In addition, legal and organizational back-up have been put in place for a process of union-led actions and negotiations with the CvB.
However, FNV will only move forward if a large number of LU staff members expresses their support at the meeting.
Do you want the union to take action?
Come to the meeting! We need a big turnout to convince FNV.
Your voice and physical presence at the meeting will decide the union’s way of proceeding. It will also be an opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns.
Please spread the word - any colleague you can convince to join the meeting will improve the chance that FNV will help us put pressure on the CvB.
Download and print posters/flyers here.
(NB: the meeting is for FNV members only. You can become a member upon entrance of the meeting.)
No update on Horizon collaborations since July 2025
The Committee on External Collaborations–Conflict Areas and Human Rights started working on formulating advice on LU research collaborations with Israeli universities in July 2025.
After more than 3 months, the outcome of the committee's review is still pending.
Within the context of Horizon Europe, Leiden University currently participates in 10 projects with the following Israeli institutions and companies: Reichman University, Weizmann Institute of Science, University of Haifa, the Mofet Institute, Bar-Ilan University, Ben Gurion University, the Israeli Ministry of Health, Ahva Dead Sea Laboratories, Philips and Civan Advanced Technologies.
These institutions:
- Conduct Research for military and security services
- Have Partnerships with weapon producers, and do research for weapons production
- Host Military tailored academic programs
- Collaborate with settlers through archeology programs (e.g. settler organization Elad)
- Support the expansion of illegal settlements
- Which includes founding universities in illegally occupied West Bank (Ariel University)
In fact, even though Horizon Europe funding is supposedly only permitted for research with civilian applications, the Commission does not track whether a technology is ultimately deployed for military purposes.
The suspension or termination of Horizon cooperation could have major economic consequences for Israel and plays a very important role in the campaign to end the genocide in Gaza and denounce the illegal occupation and oppression of Palestinians in the West Bank.
Leiden University should withdraw from these projects. Procedurally, removing a partner necessitates EU Commission approval, but the participation of one or more beneficiaries may be terminated by the coordinator, on behalf of the other beneficiaries.
Leiden Scholars for Palestine has urged the committee to issue its recommendations with no further delay. It is our responsibility to uphold the values Leiden University stands for, refuse complicity, and cut ties with institutions that violate international law.
All members of staff are invited to join us in soliciting an urgent response. You can find their email address here: www.medewerkers.universiteitleiden.nl/onderzoek/kwaliteit-en-integriteit/commissie-mensenrechten-conflictgebieden
Take action against genocide in Sudan
Leiden Scholars for Palestine has sent an email to the Executive Board, the University Council, and the Committee for human rights and conflict zones, urging to launch an investigation into Leiden University’s ties with possibly complicit institutions and corporations in the genocide in Sudan.
What can you do?
- Inform yourself about the conflict and genocide in Sudan.
- Let us know if you are aware of ties between Leiden University and UAE or Saudi corporations or organizations, or other companies which you suspect may be complicit in the atrocities in Sudan.
- Notify your Faculty Council of such ties and ask if they can raise it with the board and demand an investigation (or if you are certain a boycott).
- Address the genocide in Sudan in your teaching.
- Support local relief organizations such as SAPA (https://sapa-usa.org/) and emergency response rooms (https://khartoumerr.org/about-us/)
Wij werken hier niet aan mee
Every first Monday of the month when the alarm sounds, we put down our work and make noise for Gaza. Last Monday, November 3, there was a good turnout at the FSW building in Leiden with over 50 staff and students. We hope to see many of you on December 3 at 12 sharp at FSW and WYNHVN.
More on the national action: https://wijwerkenhiernietaanmee.nl/
