Gaza’s Rebuilding Effort-Could Israeli Academia Return to the Global Stage?

• • • • • • Could Israeli Academia Return to the Global Stage by Taking Part in Gaza’s Reconstruction Effort? 

Israel’s academic community could play a decisive role in shaping the long-term reconstruction of Gaza — yet it remains silent.

Earlier today, I reached out to the Committee of University Heads in Israel (VERA) with a proposal: to organize an emergency academic conference bringing together Israeli experts who have been researching Gaza’s environmental and infrastructural rehabilitation for years.
Such a conference could help end the growing academic boycott against Israel and re-establish our universities as active contributors to regional recovery and dialogue.

“In my message, I wrote:“I still believe the United States is determined to enforce the ceasefire and to begin Gaza’s reconstruction — despite all the rumors.

The rebuilding process will take ten to twenty years, during which much will change.
Israel should participate — at least with one billion dollars — otherwise we will miss one of the largest reconstruction projects of the century.
Tens of millions of tons of debris must be reused or deposited in the sea, possibly through the creation of an artificial island or land expansion westward.
We should convene Israeli and international experts for an emergency conference within weeks — there is vast knowledge here that must not go unused.”

The informal response I received from VERA suggested “waiting to see where things go.”

But I ask: how long should we wait?
Within two weeks, Egypt — under U.S. and Arab League sponsorship — will host an international conference on Gaza’s reconstruction. France and the U.K. are preparing similar meetings, and the German Embassy in Israel has already reached out to Israeli experts for proposals.

If everyone else is already acting while we remain in the stands, we risk further isolation from the international community — and from the future of Gaza’s rebuilding.

My previous post on Gaza’s reconstruction attracted more than 17,000 readers in Israel — proof that this topic deeply matters to the public.
It’s time for our universities to take the stage again.

Image caption:
Pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University, New York. Photo: AP / Yuki Iwamura.