Student Activism for Palestinian Solidarity Rises in Germany

German universities are witnessing an increasing surge of student activism in solidarity with Palestinians, with various student bodies pushing for their institutions to sever ties with Israeli partners. This movement is gaining traction within a country where the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign is officially regarded as extreme.

One notable instance occurred at Leipzig University, where nearly 700 students participated in a vote last month. The student council overwhelmingly passed a motion demanding the university discontinue all collaborations with Israeli institutions. Orlando Becker, a 22-year-old representative from Students for Palestine Leipzig, stated that all five of Leipzig University's Israeli partner universities are considered integral to the Israeli military complex, contributing to the development of weaponry, surveillance systems, and military recruitment. Becker argued that cooperation with these universities legitimizes and normalizes their activities, which students view as problematic.

Academic Boycott Resolutions Gain Traction

The Leipzig vote is part of a broader trend of Palestinian solidarity at German universities, which has intensified since March. Similar motions have been introduced by student councils in Berlin and Dusseldorf. Students supporting these boycotts contend that Israeli universities are complicit in alleged human rights abuses and war crimes. To substantiate their claims, students have compiled reports detailing how academic institutions contribute to the Israeli military, particularly concerning operations in Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank, as well as promoting specific government narratives.

Becker cited archaeological projects as an example, asserting that some aim to deny the historical presence of Palestinians. He mentioned a specific archaeology project between Leipzig University and Ben Gurion University. After disseminating their report, Students for Palestine collected 1,300 signatures to convene a general student assembly. However, the university subsequently withdrew permission for the use of a lecture hall, citing concerns about a "partisan statement and the intention to restrict academic freedom." Becker described the growing student engagement as a "historic moment for Germany" but acknowledged the challenges ahead, expressing doubt that university administrations would prioritize student democratic processes over their relationships with Israeli institutions.

"All five [Israeli] partner universities of Leipzig University are an essential component of the Israeli military complex: They develop weapons, surveillance systems and recruit on their campus for military units," 22-year-old Orlando Becker of Students for Palestine Leipzig told Al Jazeera. "We therefore think that cooperating with those universities is in and of itself problematic, because one is legitimising and normalising those institutions."

Hertie School's BDS Resolution and University Response

In March, the student council at the Hertie School, a private university in Berlin, passed a resolution supporting the BDS campaign, becoming the first German student council to do so. A member of the Hertie Student Representation (HSR) explained that students had been advocating for years for the school to end collaborations with organizations implicated in human rights violations in Palestinian territories. The resolution, which applied the BDS framework to student-administered funds, passed with over 90 percent of votes in favor.

However, the Hertie School administration distanced itself from the HSR's resolution, with the Hertie Foundation labeling it "unacceptable." This led to a tense campus atmosphere, and the HSR ultimately stepped down after a vote of no confidence. The HSR member reported that the university allegedly used tactics such as suggesting that association with BDS could harm students' job prospects or jeopardize international students' visa statuses, and implied that supporters of the motion were acting unlawfully.

Germany's Staatsraison and Suppression of Activism

Despite the growing student movement, the BDS campaign is considered extremist by the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, though it is not banned. Arshak Makichyan, an environmentalist and antiwar activist at Hertie, expressed disappointment with the university's handling of the situation, describing discussions as "staged" and reminiscent of his experiences in Russia. He criticized the lack of open debate on the legality of Israel's actions under international law.

Support for Israel is a core component of modern Germany's national interests, known as its Staatsraison, or reason for state. Peter Ullrich, an anti-Semitism researcher at the Technical University (TU) of Berlin, noted that this stance has led to a political establishment where Israel is almost sacrosanct, and Palestinian voices are often marginalized or met with severe state responses to demonstrations. A Jewish student at Hertie, a descendant of Holocaust survivors, expressed feeling "alienated," stating that their commitment to fighting oppression was questioned in relation to their identity. They argued that accusations of anti-Semitism in this context trivialize the term and should not be used to deflect criticism of state power.

Pro-Palestinian activism at German institutions frequently faces suppression, including event cancellations, police interventions, and legal actions against students. In November 2023, a lecture hall at the Free University of Berlin (FUB) was occupied by students in solidarity with Gaza. Similarly, in May 2024, Humboldt University's Institute of Social Sciences was occupied. In both instances, police forcibly removed students, resulting in dozens of injuries, with reports indicating harsher treatment for people of color, particularly those of Arab descent. Several protesters faced trespassing charges, and four FUB protesters were expelled from the country.

Last week, another BDS resolution was defeated at the FUB, and Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf (HHU) pledged to continue its collaborations with Israeli institutions despite a student parliament resolution calling for an academic boycott. Uffa Jensen of the Center for Research on Antisemitism at TU Berlin highlighted the significant political support for Israel in Germany, which he believes takes precedence. He pointed out the contrasting response to Russian universities after the invasion of Ukraine, where the German Education and Science Ministry immediately ordered an end to all collaborations. Jensen suggested that while the impact on university leadership might be limited, individual scholars and future research collaborations could be affected, though such effects might not be openly acknowledged.

Source: ‘Historic’ wave of Palestinian solidarity grows at universities in Germany