The Academic Boycott of Israel | Status Report for June 2025
The comprehensive report by the Samuel Neaman Institute provides an in-depth analysis of the academic boycott against Israel, focusing on the impact of BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) activities on the Israeli higher education system and research community. It highlights the growing threat these campaigns pose to Israel’s global academic standing, which has long been marked by scientific excellence, extensive international collaborations, and strong research output.
The report documents cases of political filtering, institutional exclusion, and both overt and covert boycotts of Israeli scholars. These practices are increasingly affecting academic advancement, international visibility, and the ability to attract foreign students—posing a serious and escalating threat to Israeli academia.
Situating the boycott within a broader context of delegitimization efforts and rising global antisemitism, the report reveals links between hostile states funding and anti-Israel activism on U.S. and European campuses. It warns of the infiltration of radical political narratives into the humanities, suppression of pro-Israel voices, and growing ideological censorship, all of which erode core principles of academic freedom.
In response, the report outlines a series of actionable recommendations across three levels—national, institutional, and individual. These include enhancing international advocacy, establishing mechanisms to monitor and address boycott incidents, forging new global partnerships, creating a network of “academic ambassadors,” and providing the necessary tools, including legal support, to affected researchers. The central conclusion is that a coordinated, multidisciplinary, and long-term strategy—rooted in sound strategic planning—is essential to ensure Israel’s continued scientific prosperity despite the challenges posed by academic boycotts
The Academic Boycott of Israel | Key Findings and Recommendations Summary
the report outlines a series of actionable recommendations across three levels—national, institutional, and individual. These include enhancing international advocacy, establishing mechanisms to monitor and address boycott incidents, forging new global partnerships, creating a network of “academic ambassadors,” and providing the necessary tools, including legal support, to affected researchers.
Confronting the Academic Boycott | Conference Summary from April 23, 2025
The program included opening remarks, a review of data and actions taken by the Neaman Institute regarding the issue, an in-depth legal lecture on the boundaries of the boycott’s legality, and two panel discussions focusing on the responses of Israeli academic institutions and the efforts of civil society organizations against the boycott phenomenon. Participants’ remarks were recorded and transcribed; below is a summary of their presentations.
The Academic Boycott of Israel | Interim Report
This interim report by the Samuel Neaman Institute examines the scope of the academic boycott of Israel, its diverse existing and potential effects, and potential and effective means of addressing it
SCHOLAR SHIELD Initiative – One Pager
Recognizing the potential harm of an academic boycott on Israel, the Samuel Neaman Institute has established an ad-hoc task force to address the issue under the concept of SCHOLAR SHIELD. This team collaborates with the University Heads’ Committee, relevant government ministries, and other organizations. If you come across any instances of an academic boycott targeting […]
