Academic boycott hits Israeli research and film industry

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
9 Sep 2024 13:20
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Israeli media reports indicate evidence of academic boycotts against Israeli research centers in international companies, amid growing concerns.

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Activists had called the protest in the Barbes district of northern Paris to demonstrate against the Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip. (AFP)

Israeli news site i24NEWS reported a dramatic one-third decrease in joint research studies at Tel Aviv's Sheba Medical Center and Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) compared to the previous year.

The decline follows an academic boycott by major international companies, in addition to restrictions on research coordinators traveling to the entity due to ongoing security concerns, as per the report.

Data from the International Helsinki Committee, which monitors and sets guidelines for medical research involving human subjects, revealed that Israeli hospitals alone received 822 million shekels ($219 million) in 2021 from international research partnerships, highlighting the economic importance of such partnerships.

The head of the Helsinki Committee in "Israel" and director of the Ophthalmology Department at Asuta Hospital in Ashdod suggested that the reduced level of international collaboration could represent a pivotal moment for Israeli doctors and researchers.

Israeli film festival in France canceled

In a different yet related context, the Israeli Film Festival in Paris, which has been held annually for the past 15 years, has been canceled by Cinéma Star de Strasbourg.

Known as Shalom Europe, the festival has traditionally showcased Israeli cinema. However, this year’s event, initially set for September 8-10, has been delayed for the first time in its history. The Strasbourg municipality decided to postpone the festival amid the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza and increasing pro-Palestinian protests in France.

The festival’s usual venue, a local cinema, cited both the current political climate and security concerns as reasons for the postponement.

The Wall Street Journal reported in July that the boycott of "Israel" is expanding into new sectors, from academia to defense. The article also highlighted that this growing movement poses risks to Israeli research and revenue, potentially altering careers, harming businesses, and impacting the broader economy.

"Israel" has left extensive casualties in the Gaza genocide, killing over 40,000 civilians in 11 months of war, mainly children and women. Thousands more are believed to be buried beneath the rubble, with at least 94,000 wounded and the overwhelming majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million population forcibly displaced. Despite it all, the Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza continues live and unabated.