Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Khalid Benhaddou, mediator in Ghent University protests, steps down after students lose confidence. Initial progress was made, but an impasse was reached over compromise. University to reassess Israeli collaborations; student occupation continues.
Khalid Benhaddou, theologian and author, was called in after the protests at Ghent University escalated. Students have been occupying the UFO campus in Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat for some time in protest against their university’s attitude towards the conflict in Gaza and the climate.
On Friday, May 24, they also went to the neighbouring rectorate. They put tents on the roof and daubed the facade with red paint. Ghent University employees notified the police. He removed some activists and detained them administratively, with a lot of pulling and pushing.
Ghent mayor Mathias De Clercq (Open VLD) then appointed a mediator. Both parties agreed with Khalid Benhaddou, affiliated with Ghent University, who started talks. Today, ten days later, the occupiers let us know that they no longer have confidence in it. “We felt it was gradually evolving into one-way traffic,” he said.
What was the result of the initial mediation efforts?
“In the first few days I was able to defuse the situation and the eviction procedure (started by the rector, ed.) was suspended,” says Benhaddou himself. “Both parties gave every opportunity to dialogue and to this end, I conducted extensive shuttle diplomacy behind the scenes. This resulted in a second conversation with the rector.”
The rector then came up with a proposal: the human rights committee of Ghent University would re-examine current collaborations with Israeli institutions, this time at the level of the entire university or institution. The conclusion was that all collaborations had to be stopped. “That advice was far-reaching compared to the first decision,” says Benhaddou. “Professors who support the activists also confirm this. I was – not the only one – euphoric, things seemed to be moving along. There was a de facto academic boycott, which was one of the fundamental demands of the occupiers. I hoped to build on that.”
So Benhaddou himself proposed to the occupiers last weekend. “If you compare the situation today with when I started my assignment, we have come a long way. I had hoped that the other party (the students, ed.) would also see this and be open to a step towards the middle. But that turns out not to be the case.”
And so he stops his assignment. “I asked the activists for clarity, and they chose not to make any concessions. Mediation always presupposes a willingness to compromise. If one side firmly rejects a compromise, there is an impasse. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t force it to drink.”
“The students now speak of a facilitator, who should only be responsible for obtaining their demands. I cannot take on that role,” says Benhaddou. “I don’t blame them for this, it is a legitimate position for them, but then I can no longer make progress,” Benhaddou emphasizes that he remains available. “In my opinion, there was still room to further discuss the conditions of a voluntary eviction. I was able to dig further, so I am disappointed that it ends this way.”
The student occupation will therefore continue, with the same requirements. “That choice is theirs. I guess they’ve thought about the consequences. I see that a new phase has begun with the occupation of an intersection (Tuesday morning, ed.). I don’t know how this will continue. That is now up to the competent authorities, both the rector and the mayor.”
