Dutch universities conduct joint research with Israel’s defense industry

Europe’s unwithered solidarity with Israel is evident in the EU’s biggest research program, Horizon Europe, also after the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. Israel receives the most money from all non-EU states – more than 3 billion euros since 1996. 

The scientific projects cannot have a dual use – meaning, serve both civilian and military purposes. However, weapons experts stated that 28 ongoing programs between the Netherlands and Israel are, according to experts, dual-use. 12 dual-use projects started after October 7, 2023. 

For example, TU Delft is cooperating in two projects with Israel Aerospace Industries, a state-owned company that develops civil and military aerospace systems. IAI wants to apply the technology developed with Delft “as soon as possible”.

The European Commission does not check if the Horizon Europe projects are dual-use or not. The researchers only need to tick that their projects serve civilian purposes.

Due to this vague policy, researchers who have ethical concerns about the collaboration face a dilemma. They cannot oust their Israeli partners from the projects. Even if they want to step out of the projects themselves, they can be found breaking the contract. 

Read the full investigation in Dutch published on Follow the Money.

Interview with Leonie Coppes
Leonie Coppes is one of the investigative journalists who contributed to this investigation

What prompted you to start the research?
Last year we saw worldwide demonstrations emerging against complicity of universities in the genocide in Gaza. My colleagues and I wanted to know: how does this complicity of Dutch universities exactly look like?

Why is this story important?
It is important for citizens to be informed on how universities, as a main receiver of both European and Dutch subsidies, are playing a role in faciliting war crimes.

When did you start this investigation?
In June last year.

Is there a moment during the research that has stayed with you?
We travelled to Brussels, the core of European policy making, to speak with various sources. Here we found out the European commissioner Ursula von der Leyen herself plays a major role in policy that supports Israel. Although it is difficult to prove and we only have one source to share this information, it does illustrate internal discussion is being hampered. Many European civil servants see themselves forced to protest against European Israel policy.