Irish university to cut ties with Israel over war on Gaza
The Republic of Ireland’s Trinity College Dublin says it will sever all ties with Israel because of its “ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law”.
The decision comes after a series of student protests bringing attention to Israeli military abuses in Gaza and calling for an end to ties with the country.
The news agency AFP reported that the board of the leading university sent an email to students saying it would no longer do business with Israeli firms, would divest from all companies based in Israel, and would decline further mobility agreements with Israeli universities.
Norway’s parliament to vote on divesting from Israeli firms operating in occupied areas
Lawmakers are set to debate whether Norway’s $1.9 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest, should divest from all companies with activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
A formal vote was expected at about 13:00 GMT.
The minority Labour government has for months been resisting pressure from pro-Palestinian campaigners to instruct the fund to divest from all firms with ties to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
“We have an established ethical regime for the fund,” Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg told the chamber in a debate on several aspects of the way the fund is run. “We divest from the companies that contribute to Israel’s breach of international law, but we do not divest from all companies that are present on the ground.”
Lawmaker Ingrid Fiskaa from the small Socialist Left opposition party told the chamber: “Without Norwegian oil fund money, it would be more difficult for Israeli authorities to demolish the homes of Palestinian families.”
Germans want stricter controls on arms exports to Israel
About 73 percent of Germans want tighter controls on arms exports to Israel, including 30 percent who favour a total ban, a poll shows, reflecting growing public unease over the government’s Israel policy.
Germany approved military equipment exports to Israel worth 485 million euros ($554m) from late 2023 to present. The deliveries included firearms, ammunition, weapons parts, special equipment for the army and navy, electronic equipment, and special armoured vehicles.
No lawsuit challenging German arms exports to Israel has yet succeeded, including a case brought by Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice.
But Germany’s stance shifted last week when new Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised Israel’s intensified air strikes in Gaza, calling them no longer justified or comprehensible. His foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, warned of possible consequences, hinting at steps towards arms export sanctions.
