Copenhagen University is facing a storm of criticism after it was revealed that they have invested one million Danish kroner in companies mentioned on a UN list of firms with business activities in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This has led to protests from students demanding a change in the university’s investment policy. The investments include well-known online platforms such as Booking.com, Airbnb, and eDreams, all of which are involved in economic activities in the disputed areas. This was disclosed by the university itself on the social media platform X.
In response, a group of pro-Palestinian students have set up a protest camp on the university’s campus. They demand that the university not only withdraw their investments but also publicly condemn the actions leading to the suffering of Palestinians. The university’s board held a meeting in April to discuss the situation. They pointed out that there are no investment products on the market that automatically exclude companies from the UN list. The board is now considering alternative investment strategies, including investing in government and mortgage bonds, but stresses the importance of maintaining a diversified portfolio to ensure the university’s financial stability.
The university has also announced that they will take a more active ownership of their investments by initiating regular dialogues with their fund managers, especially regarding the companies appearing on the UN list. The students have stated that they will continue their occupation of the university area until their demands are met. However, the university has clarified that they will not take an active stance on the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Ritzau has attempted to contact Copenhagen University for further comment, but the university has not yet responded to the inquiry.