"MIT Professor Rejects Israeli Military Grant Amid Student Protests"

MIT Professor Withdraws Grant from Israeli Military-Industrial Complex Amid Student Protests In a rare instance of student activism leading to institutional change, MIT Professor Markus Buehler has withdrawn his university's research grant from Israel's military-industrial complex following pressure from student activists who protested against the ongoing conflict in Gaza. According to The Intercept, this move marks one of the only cases where public pressure and student activism have led directly to an institution cutting ties with Israeli interests. The decision comes after months of protests and advocacy efforts by students and community members at MIT, who had been pushing for divestment from Israel's military-industrial complex. On December 9, 2024, a Palestinian solidarity protest was held at city hall in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where students and community members gathered to express their opposition to the ongoing violence in Gaza (The Intercept). The protests were part of a larger movement across the country, with pro-Palestine student activists pushing for universities to respond to pressure for divestment from Israel. According to Mila Halgren, a postdoctoral associate at MIT, this is "one of the only cases where we know that student activism and public pressure led directly to an Israeli tie being cut, let alone a collaboration with its genocidal military" (The Intercept). The move has sparked hope for similar actions nationwide, highlighting the growing influence of student activism on university policies. The grant withdrawal marks a significant shift in MIT's relationship with Israel's military-industrial complex. According to The Intercept, this is a rare instance where public pressure and student activism have led directly to an institution cutting ties with Israeli interests. The development has sparked hope for similar actions nationwide, particularly among pro-Palestine student activists who have been pushing for divestment from Israel. In a statement, Professor Buehler said that he had withdrawn the grant "in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the concerns expressed by students and community members" (The Intercept). The move has been welcomed by student activists, who see it as a significant victory in their efforts to push for divestment from Israel. While this development is a positive step forward, experts note that there is still much work to be done. "This is just one step in the right direction," said Halgren. "We need to continue pushing for divestment and cutting ties with entities involved in human rights controversies." The current status of the grant withdrawal and its implications for MIT's relationship with Israel remain unclear. However, one thing is certain: this development marks a significant shift in the influence of student activism on university policies. Sources: The Intercept: "MIT Professor Cancels Israeli Military Grant After Student Pressure" The Intercept: "MIT Professor Pulls Out of Israeli Military Grant Amid Student Protests" This story was compiled from reports by The Intercept and The Intercept.