An Israeli academic has spoken out against the ongoing boycott of Israeli scholars by some international academic institutions, describing the effects as demoralizing and silencing critical voices within Israeli academia. Dr. Ofek Reimer, an assistant professor at the Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, detailed his recent experiences with academic boycotts in an interview.

Reimer’s concerns came to light after he was initially rejected from an academic conference despite submitting a paper that fit the conference’s theme. The rejection was later clarified by the organizers, who acknowledged that the decision was not based on the quality or relevance of his work but on policy interpretations related to institutional cooperation with Israeli universities. Although he was eventually reinvited, he was later informed that security concerns prevented his in-person participation.

Reimer outlined how the broader atmosphere of boycotts and institutional hesitance have translated into what he terms a “silent boycott,” where invitations are withheld or talks canceled under bureaucratic pretexts such as security risks. He recounted a workshop cancellation at Leiden University in the Netherlands last year after questions were raised about the nature of cooperation with his institution. More overt refusals have come from organizations like the Institute for European Intelligence & Security, which declined his submissions without explicit justification.

While Reimer acknowledged the particular prevalence of these boycotts within European academic circles, he noted that relationships with American institutions remain comparatively stable. He also emphasized that despite efforts to marginalize Israeli voices, those scholars retain a central role in fields studying conflict, intelligence, and security due to Israel’s expertise and experience in these areas.

Reflecting on the personal impact, Reimer expressed that the boycott has strengthened his identification as Israeli, rather than simply as an academic, and highlighted the complex position Israeli scholars now occupy. He characterized Israeli academia as one of the last strongholds of independent critical thinking in the country—often critical of government policies—and warned that boycotts undermine this role by reducing funding opportunities, silencing debate, and limiting international engagement.

Reimer also suggested that changes in Israel’s government might improve international scholarly collaboration but warned that recent policies and the handling of conflict have caused lasting damage to Israel’s academic standing. He singled out Germany as a key ally and major funder of Israeli academic work, noting its influence in shaping European engagement.

Despite his clear criticism of the current Israeli government, which he described as disastrous and in need of pressure to reform, Reimer urged the international community not to conflate academic institutions with political disputes. He argued that while boycotting the state is a political option, using academic platforms to exclude Israeli scholars is counterproductive. According to Reimer, Israeli academics contribute significantly to educating about democratic values and security, and undermining them harms efforts to counter illiberal and authoritarian trends in Israel.