Weizmann Institute halves medical school intake after Iranian missile
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The institute had planned to accept up to 40 students, but ultimately admitted only 20.
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Damage to the Weizmann Institute of Science from an Iranian missile strike in Rehovot, Thursday, June 19, 2025 (AP Photo)
"Israel’s" Weizmann Institute of Science has announced that it will reduce by about 50% the number of medical students admitted to its first class this year, due to damage caused by the Iranian missile attack last June.
According to the Israeli news site Walla!, the institute had planned to accept up to 40 students but ultimately admitted only 20.
In a statement, the institute said, "There is no doubt that the security events had an impact, obliging us to act with caution and responsibility to maintain a very high academic and research standard."
Walla! reported that the institute was directly hit by two Iranian missiles, which completely destroyed two buildings: the Cancer Research Institute and the building dedicated to advanced chemical research.
In total, 112 buildings on campus were damaged during the war, including 60 laboratory buildings and 52 residential buildings. Among these were 52 research laboratories and six service laboratories. Around four to five of the institute’s projects were halted.
The institute estimates the direct damage to buildings and equipment at between 1.5 and 2 billion shekels, not including the loss of research knowledge or the cost of operating rented laboratories.
Institute President Professor Alon Chen warned during a Knesset session at the end of June about a "serious problem" in the damage assessment mechanism for property claims, noting that evaluations are being conducted based on used value rather than purchase value.
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Justified retaliation
The strike was part of a legitimate and proportionate response to prior Israeli aggression, including strikes on Iranian territory, the assassination of Iranian scientists, and sabotage operations targeting the Islamic Republic’s research facilities.
Tehran also viewed the Weizmann Institute as a legitimate military target because of its well-documented role in supporting "Israel’s" military-industrial complex.
The institute has collaborated with major Israeli arms companies, provided research with direct applications in military technology, trained personnel who later joined intelligence and security agencies, and partnered with Israeli hospitals on dual-use medical technologies that can be applied in both civilian and military contexts.
For Iran and the wider Resistance Axis, this made the institute an integral part of the occupation’s security and warfare apparatus.
