“We haven’t had a case like this at the College de France since the Second Empire,” react to Release Henry Laurens, historian and co-organizer of the conference “Palestine and Europe: the weight of past and contemporary dynamics”. Scheduled for Thursday 13 November and Friday 14 November, the event was canceled this Sunday, “in reaction to the controversy surrounding the holding (of the conference)”, said the agency’s management in a press release.
This is decisive “the authorities, as heads of institutions, responsible for the safety of property and people and the tranquility of the event held at the Collège de France, cancel the event.” The agency claims that “does not advocate, encourage or support any form of activism” and that he defended it “strict neutrality (…) with regard to questions of a political or ideological nature”.
This conference, which was held together with the Center for Research and Arab Political Studies (Carep), aims to bring together researchers to question the relationship between Palestine and Europe. The Doha Institute-funded research organization has been targeted, especially since its former director François Burgat was tried and later acquitted in 2025 for “apology for terrorism” after the message is posted “I have the utmost respect and consideration for the leaders of Hamas over the leaders of the State of Israel.” Asked by Releasein April the researcher defended his speech as follows: “I understand that there are disagreements in judgment and this may come as a surprise, but I will not take any action on this matter.” Meanwhile, Henry Laurens regrets it “The fantasy of some people who see the Muslim Brotherhood everywhere.”
The opening speech was delivered by Salam Kawakibi, researcher and executive director of Carep. The International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism (Licra) condemned in a tweet on Friday a “anti-Zionist exhibition” and a “abuse of prestigious institutions”. The association announced it would contact the Minister of Higher Education, Philippe Baptiste.
Sunday, on day X, the last one said hello “A responsible decision from an institution that should symbolize the excellence of science in our country and, for that reason, be a place for debate in all its plurality, open to all currents of thought, in all fields, and always in accordance with the laws and values of our republic.”
Henry Laurens strongly denied these accusations: “This affair was created because of Licra’s protest conveyed by the main thing is, which questions the scientific content of the conference, which I firmly reject and is an insult to all participants. And to add: “The minister who presented Licra’s argument clearly had not read the contents of the conference.”
Historians lament that the entire event was discredited by the presence of former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and Italian jurist Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, who are renowned for their propalestian positions. “I understand that their presence may not please some people, but they were invited to speak with Josep Borrell (editor’s note former vice president of the European Commission from the Socialist Party), for the final debate on Europe, which is within their political competence.” he determined.
The case illustrates the growing tensions surrounding public discussion of the situation in the Middle East, targeting Israeli and Palestinian intellectuals and artists. In recent months, several conferences and screenings have been contested or cancelled, often in the name of institutional neutrality and the risk of excesses. Organizers are looking for another location to hold the conference.
