Pro-Palestinian pressure is increasing: Nijmegen activists are gathering on Erasmusplein today

Following actions in Amsterdam and Utrecht, Nijmegen students and employees are demonstrating today for the Palestinian cause. They demand that Radboud University sever its ties with Israeli institutions. How a wave of protest is rolling over Dutch campuses.

Who are the protesters?

The recent upsurge of protests started last week with students and employees setting up tents on a University of Amsterdam (UvA) site on Monday. Sympathizers joined in. There were also alumni who previously participated in the Maagdenhuis occupation in 2015. Furthermore, according to critics, such as Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf, ‘professional rioters’ participated in the protest.

What do they want?

The demonstrators want to know what ties their university has with Israeli institutions and companies. The UvA should stop cooperation with educational institutions that support ‘genocide, apartheid and colonial violence’ and also terminate contracts with companies that benefit from it.

Will the universities comply with these demands?

The demands are ‘actually almost impossible to discuss’, UvA rector Peter-Paul Verbeek told NOS. He thinks openness about partnerships is fine, ‘but we don’t want to cut ties.’ Utrecht University also does not want to respond to the demands, even after last week’s occupation.

The University of Amsterdam will organize discussions about cooperation with companies and institutions in the light of the war in Gaza, as previously happened with the fossil industry.

What is the position of Radboud University in this discussion?

The administrators wrote again yesterday that they look at the human rights violations with horror. They support the call for an end to violence against innocent civilians and for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. However, cutting ties with Israeli institutions is not an option. The university sees partnerships as an opportunity to maintain an ‘open line’.

How far can a protest on campus go?

Demonstrations are allowed, writes the Nijmegen Executive Board, as long as activists adhere to the university code of conduct. Racism, sexism, discrimination, destruction, (physical) threats or uttering slogans that call for violence and/or exclusion are not permitted. The university does not write down what will happen if this is not complied with.

In Amsterdam there were clashes with the riot police? What violence did he use?

The officers hit with batons, removed barricades with a shovel and reportedly also used police dogs. It hit some people hard. The demonstrators speak of brutal violence.

What about the demonstrators and counter-protesters?

Fireworks and stones were thrown at the police, among other things. One officer reportedly got ammonia in his eyes. On Monday, some men picked a fight with the demonstrators by throwing torches and fireworks at them. They were chased away with sticks.

Who actually decides whether the riot police intervene?

If the protest is on campus, the educational institution must report the protest. The mayor, the police and the Public Prosecution Service (the ‘triangle’) can then decide to proceed with the eviction.

What is the damage of the occupations and protests?

The University of Amsterdam estimates that damage amounting to one and a half million euros has been caused. This does not include damage to property owned by the municipality, companies and private individuals, so the amount could increase. No amount has yet been mentioned in Utrecht.

Who pays for the damage?

The UU has threatened to send the occupiers the bill if they do not leave everything tidy. The UvA is still looking at “whether and how” the damage can be recovered from the demonstrators.

How do other universities view such protests?

Jouke de Vries spoke on behalf of the Universities of the Netherlands in the current affairs program Buitenhof. They are working on a joint protocol: staying overnight at a university is not allowed and there is no negotiation with masked demonstrators (as happened at the UvA).

What’s going to happen in Nijmegen today (Monday)?

Nijmegen for Palestine writes on social media that it is shocked by the actions of the university boards of Amsterdam and Utrecht. According to the activists, they allowed extreme violence on their campuses. To show solidarity with the activists there, Nijmegen for Palestine calls on students and employees to walk out of the lecture halls today (Monday) at 1:30 PM and go to Erasmusplein.