Haaretz: The repercussions of the genocide in Gaza have not ended for the occupation in the cultural and academic arenas

An Israeli newspaper stated that the repercussions of the genocide in Gaza have not ended for the occupation in the cultural and academic arenas, despite the cessation of fighting and the largely resumed economic and commercial activity, noting that boycotts in the arts and universities remain in place and pose a direct threat to what is known as Israel's soft power.

The newspaper, in a report by writer David Rosenberg, clarified that the announcement by several countries to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest in protest of the genocide in Gaza was a shock within the occupation's circles, especially amid a prevailing conviction among settlers that the war has become a thing of the past, and that it is time to move on without delving into how it was militarily managed.

It pointed out that the war remains strongly present abroad, particularly in cultural and media circles, noting that the Irish Broadcasting and Television Authority justified its withdrawal from "Eurovision" by the huge human losses in Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis, in addition to concerns about targeting journalists during the genocide.

The newspaper indicated that the cultural and academic boycott was not limited to "Eurovision", as more than a thousand global writers and literary figures signed a pledge to boycott Israeli cultural institutions, while international initiatives were launched to ban Israeli music, and prominent actors and filmmakers joined campaigns to boycott the occupation in the cinematic field.

It added that universities and academic institutions of the occupation still face European boycotts, whether openly or through what it described as "hidden boycotts", such as refusing to publish scientific research or not extending invitations to participate in international conferences.

The newspaper noted that although some boycott campaigns have receded with the implementation of the ceasefire, Israel cannot rely on the disappearance of the war's effects, confirming that its image in progressive cultural and academic circles remains negative, and that opposition to the war has in many cases turned into opposition to the very existence of the occupation.

The newspaper affirmed that the real danger lies in the decline of the occupation's soft power, explaining that culture, arts, and universities play a pivotal role in improving "Israel's" global image, and that academic boycotts threaten innovation and scientific cooperation and may lead to brain drain.