UvA Rector Magnificus does not know who he was sitting at the table with: “Wearing face-covering clothing”

After the eviction, the UvA received a lot of criticism from activists and people who supported the action. For example, a report had already been filed during one of the conversations. Verbeek categorically denies the latter: “The report was made after the last conversation, I was there when the report was made.”

“It is unacceptable and sad that a protest that starts in a peaceful manner falls prey to people who escalate it so much that it gets out of hand,” says Verbeek. “In doing so, they also ensure that peaceful protests are made impossible.”

“You also see that the group sometimes splits into two. Also during the conversations: some people left, but some people stayed put, which hardened the conversation.”

The demonstrators demanded, among other things, that the UvA sever ties with Israeli organizations, but according to the rector, this is unacceptable. “We do not want to cut ties. We are a university where we want to agree with each other on the basis of dialogue and scientific conversations, or where we can disagree in a peaceful manner.”