Czech ambassador to Israel visits Ariel University

The Czech Republic ambassador to Israel, Tomas Pojar, has visited Ariel University in Samaria. He became the first EU member state ambassador to visit the institute.

The visit took place after the recent decision to keep all Israeli research activities conducted in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and the Golan Heights out of the Horizon 2020 framework project; this includes Ariel University. Israel initially objected to the decision but reached a compromise with the EU. The country joined Horizon 2020, stating it would not recognise the boycott guidelines.

The ambassador met with university president Professor Yehuda Danon, Rector Professor Michael Zinigrad, and Dean Yigal Cohen-Orgad. Pojar expressed his interest in the joint research conducted with and for the benefit of Arab residents of Samaria, and learned that a number of them are students at the university.

At the conclusion of his visit, Pojar told reporters he had come “to see what’s really happening”. He added that he was happy to see that academic research can overcome political difficulties.

Ariel University is situated in the West Bank.