Dear Design Academy Eindhoven executive board,

We, as students, staff and alumni who care deeply about inclusivity, solidarity, and the wellbeing of every community on campus, are writing to express our concerns regarding the recent calls for the Design Academy Eindhoven (DAE) to adopt measures aligned with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

While these demands are presented as a path toward justice, we believe they are in fact harmful: they isolate Jewish and Israeli students, perpetuate division, and compromise the values of academic freedom, openness, and dialogue that institutions like ours should uphold.

Why this is deeply troubling:

▪️Targeting of Academic Institutions: Cutting ties with Bezalel Academy and Shenkar College is discriminatory. Academic institutions should be spaces of exchange, not exclusion. Punishing students and scholars based on nationality is a dangerous precedent.

▪️Inaccurate and Harmful Language: Labeling Israel’s actions as “genocide” is misleading and inflammatory. It erases the reality of Hamas’s October 7th massacre, the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust, and it distorts international law in ways that fuel hatred rather than peace.

▪️Erosion of Campus Inclusivity: These demands risk making Jewish and Israeli students feel unsafe, silenced, and unwelcome on campus. No community should be marginalized in this way.

▪️Polarization Over Dialogue: Instead of encouraging nuanced discussion, BDS pressures students into simplistic “sides.” This stifles critical thinking and reduces a complex conflict to slogans and boycotts.

Why we reject these demands and what we call for instead:

▪️Academic Freedom Must Be Protected: Rather than freeze partnerships with Israeli schools, we should expand opportunities for students from all backgrounds to learn from one another. Dialogue and collaboration are the foundation of peace.

▪️Inclusive Solidarity: Fellowships or emergency aid should be created for all students affected by the conflict — Palestinian, Israeli, Jewish, Arab, or others — not only for one group. True solidarity must be universal.

▪️Reject Double Standards: Singling out Israel while ignoring atrocities and conflicts elsewhere reflects bias, not justice. Schools should uphold consistent standards when speaking on international issues.

▪️Promote Constructive Engagement: Instead of boycotts, we should initiate programs that foster intercultural understanding, host joint Israeli-Palestinian projects, and create forums where diverse voices can be heard.

▪️Stand Firm Against Antisemitism: BDS campaigns often cross into antisemitism, whether intentional or not, by isolating Israel as the only state subject to such treatment. Our school must ensure Jewish and Israeli students feel safe, supported, and respected.

▪️Focus on Peace and Human Rights for All: Our community should highlight the peace initiatives on the table and call for the release of all hostages, while also addressing humanitarian needs. Supporting peace efforts — not boycotts — can save lives

Our Call to the School:

▪️Uphold inclusivity and solidarity for all students, regardless of nationality, religion, or background.

▪️Continue fostering academic and cultural partnerships with Israeli institutions.

▪️Publicly affirm support for Jewish and Israeli students on campus during this time of grief.

▪️Promote open dialogue and critical inquiry, rejecting calls to adopt polarizing boycotts.

We urge the administration to resist divisive measures and instead reaffirm this school’s commitment to academic freedom, respect, and genuine solidarity with all communities.

Please sign with your name and relation to the school (employee/student/alumni/friend)