Q&A
CUNY's relationship with Israel and Israeli institutions
1:22:58
·
109 sec
Council Member Eric Dinowitz inquires about CUNY's relationship with Israel and its institutions. Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez confirms that CUNY works with the Israeli consulate, has educational exchange programs, and that he led a delegation of CUNY presidents to visit Israeli institutions in 2022. Dinowitz seeks confirmation that these programs will not be canceled, emphasizing the importance of relationships between democracies and educational institutions.
- CUNY maintains educational exchange programs with Israel
- Chancellor led a delegation to visit Israeli institutions in 2022
- Discussion highlights the relationship between the Jewish people and Israel
Eric Dinowitz
1:22:58
I I I wanna move on to recommendation number 6.
1:23:03
Increase consideration of the relationship between Israel and the Jewish people when adjudicating whether conduct institutes antisemitism.
1:23:13
Can you just first talk about CUNY's current relationship, if any at all, with Israel or any of its institutions?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:23:22
Relationship?
Eric Dinowitz
1:23:22
If any at
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:23:24
all.
1:23:24
Well, I mean, we we we work with the with the consulate, I believe I'm meeting with the with the council, in in in January, I believe.
1:23:34
We have educational, exchange programs that our campuses have, with with with Israel.
Eric Dinowitz
1:23:49
There have been calls for you to cancel those educational exchange programs.
1:23:53
Can you confirm that you will not be canceling those educational exchange programs?
Felix Matos Rodriguez
1:23:57
Well, no.
1:23:58
And, actually, as as you know, I took a delegation of half of our presidents in April of 2022, in a trip that was sponsored by JCRC, to visit, institutions in Israel, university, culture institutions, because it's part of what we do in terms of exchange, but also to signal very clearly, that, we don't believe that, sort of that kind of, boycotting academically is appropriate.
Eric Dinowitz
1:24:28
Right.
1:24:28
There is an important relationship between democracies, between educational institutions.
1:24:34
And it's also fair to say that you, chancellor, recognize there is a relationship between the Jewish people, the vast majority of the Jewish people, and Israel.
1:24:45
Not their policies, the nation of Israel.
Avraham Goldstein
1:24:47
Yes.
Kalman Yeger
1:24:48
Do you
Eric Dinowitz
1:24:48
reckon so now I wanna ask you about CUNY policies.
