27.02.25
Editorial Note
On February 20, 2025, the scientific KM3NeT Collaboration, a research infrastructure housing the next-generation neutrino telescopes, published evidence for the cosmic neutrino with the highest energy ever detected. This event is identified as KM3-230213A. In a set of dedicated studies, the Collaboration has investigated the possible sources of the event and the implications that may be derived from it. These studies are included in a set of articles that have recently been released, titled “The ultra-high-energy event KM3-230213A within the global neutrino landscape,” exploring the compatibility of the occurrence of KM3-230213A with the constraints placed by other experiments. The highly respected journal Nature recently published an article by the Collaboration on their findings.
According to KM3Net, once this research is completed, “the telescopes will have detector volumes between megaton and several cubic kilometers of clear sea water. Located in the deepest seas of the Mediterranean, KM3NeT will open a new window into our Universe and also contribute to the research of the properties of the elusive neutrino particles. With the ARCA telescope, KM3NeT scientists will search for neutrinos from distant astrophysical sources such as supernovae, gamma ray bursters, or colliding stars. The ORCA telescope is the instrument for KM3NeT scientists studying neutrino properties exploiting neutrinos generated in the Earth’s atmosphere.”
An Ariel University research team has joined the KM3Net Collaboration in recent years. In 2021, the team was admitted as an observer. In March 2023, the Collaboration reported that “The KM3NeT Collaboration met online” and has “reviewed the status of data taking and data analysis of ARCA and ORCA, and discussed the progress in detector construction and the plans for next sea campaigns.” They added that the “Collaboration continues to grow: a research team has joined as full member of the Collaboration from University of Hull in UK (team leader: Brad Gibson) and a team from Ariel University in Israel (team leader: Dafne Guetta) has been welcomed as observer.” Ariel University was an observer until January 2024. When it applied to become a full member, after student protests, KM3Net sent an email to Prof. Dafne Guetta, from the Physics Department at Ariel University and the Ariel University team leader in KM3Net, revoking its membership.
The email, dated February 27, 2024, stated:
“Dear Dafne, let me inform you about the results of the IB discussion on the Ariel membership in KM3NeT yesterday. Acknowledging that you had withdrawn the full membership application, we focused on the question on how to continue with the Ariel membership as an observer institute in KM3NeT. I apologize that during previous deliberations we had not been aware of the full picture of the international status of the settlement of Ariel, with all of the related legal matters arising and the potential negative impact on our support by the EU. Given these boundary conditions, substantial objections were raised against the membership of Ariel University, which the IB had to consider irrespective of the scientific qualification of you and your group. After discussion we held a secret vote, resulting in a 25:2 majority with 4 abstentions for suspending (i.e. terminating until further notice) the membership of Ariel University in KM3NeT. We also discussed possible options to continue cooperation with you and your group on an individual basis, if you’d wish so. In case you indicate that this is indeed the case, we will be ready to enter negotiations towards a solution that is considered viable by both you and a clear majority of the IB. Please note that a mention of Ariel University as affiliation of a KM3NeT author is seen very critical, even if it were explicitly clarified that there is no institutional relation between Ariel University and the KM3NeT Collaboration. Let me emphasize that this decision does not reflect in any way a valuation of you as a person or scientist.”
As stated, KM3NeT receives support from Europe.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding program for research and innovation. The funding amount for Horizon Europe for the period of 2021 to 2027 is EUR 93.5 billion, aimed to boost the EU’s competitiveness and growth. Horizon Europe “facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges… It creates jobs, fully engages the EU’s talent pool, boosts economic growth, promotes industrial competitiveness and optimizes investment impact within a strengthened European Research Area. Legal entities from the EU and associated countries can participate.” Israel is one of the countries participating in these programs.
To recall, Horizon Europe added a clause in 2023 to their funding guideline stating that “entities covered by commission guideline no. 2013/C 205/05 are not eligible to participate in any capacity (including as beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, third parties giving in-kind contributions, subcontractors or recipients of financial support to third parties, if any).”
As opposed to the earlier commission guidelines, which were not too strict: No. 2013/C 205/05, from 2013, “on the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967 for grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the EU from 2014 onwards (OJEU C 205 of 19.07.2013 pp. 9-11).”
Quite clearly, the KM3NeT decision to withdraw Ariel University from the Collaboration was based on the internal deliberation of Horizon Europe.
Horizon Europe should learn something from the October 7 attack. Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 enabled the radical Islamist group Hamas to take over the Strip and launch the deadly attack on Israel in one day, resulting in the largest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust.
While this type of “virtue signaling” against “occupation” is very popular in Europe, it is clear that the Palestinians so far have not demonstrated a serious interest in peacemaking. The Oslo peace process collapsed in 2000, followed by a bloody Second Intifada in which many Israeli civilians were killed and wounded. The Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip enabled the psychopathic leader of Hamas, Yahiya Sinwar, and its supporter, the theocratic regime in Iran, to turn Gaza into an enormous terror camp replete with hundreds of kilometers of tunnels and equipped with the latest in terror tools to wage a Jihad against Israel. No doubt that relinquishing control over the West Bank would encourage Hamas, the strongest group in the territories, to replicate Sinwar’s Jihadi “holy war” against Israel.
An Israeli withdrawal of settlements in Judea and Samaria would be a mistake unless a peace agreement is reached between the Palestinians and Israel. Until then, the Israeli settlements in the West Bank are essential to keep a relative calm in the region.
Horizon Europe should accept Israeli entities beyond the 1967 border, and KM3NeT should change its policy to include Ariel University in the Collaboration.
REFERENCES:
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 6:03 PM
To: דפנה גואטה/Dafne Guetta
Subject: Ariel University and KM3NeT
Dear Dafne,
let me inform you about the results of the IB discussion on the Ariel
memberhip in KM3NeT yesterday.
Acknowledging that you had withdrawn the full membership application, we
focussed on the question on how to continue with the Ariel membership as
an observer institute in KM3NeT. I apologise that during previous
deliberations we had not been aware of the full picture of the
international status of the settlement of Ariel, with all of the related
legal matters arising and the potential negative impact on our support by
the EU. Given these boundary conditions, substantial objections were
raised against the membership of Ariel University, which the IB had to
consider irrespective of the scientific qualification of you and your
group.
After discussion we held a secret vote, resulting in a 25:2 majority with
4 abstentions for suspending (i.e. terminating until further notice) the
membership of Ariel University in KM3NeT.
We also discussed possible options to continue cooperation with you and
your group on an individual basis, if you’d wish so. In case you indicate
that this is indeed the case, we will be ready to enter negotiations
towards a solution that is considered viable by both you and a clear
majority of the IB. Please note that a mention of Ariel University as
affiliation of a KM3NeT author is seen very critical, even if it were
explicitly clarified that there is no institutional relation between Ariel
University and the KM3NeT Collaboration.
Let me emphasise that this decision does not reflect in any way a
valuation of you as a person or scientist.
With my best regards,
===========================================================
The KM3NeT Collaboration met online
14 March 2023 – The KM3NeT Collaboration met online last week for the spring Collaboration meeting.
During the meeting we reviewed the status of data taking and data analysis of ARCA and ORCA, and discussed the progress in detector construction and the plans for next sea campaigns.
The Collaboration continues to grow: a research team has joined as full member of the Collaboration from University of Hull in UK (team leader: Brad Gibson) and a team from Ariel University in Israel (team leader: Dafne Guetta) has been welcomed as observer; furthermore, Marco Miceli of University of Palermo, Italy, has been accepted as associated member.
During the meeting the first-ever winners of the Giorgos Androulakis Prize, Tamás Gál and Edward Berbee, were announced.
The plan for next Collaboration meetings was also finalized. A decision of the KM3NeT Collaboration, meant to reduce the carboon footprint on the planet, is that at least one of the general Collaboration meetings is organized online per year. The next Collaboration meetings will take place in person, in early June in Salerno and in mid-October in Paris.
====================================================
OJEU C 205 of 19.07.2013 pp. 9-11
Guidelines on the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 for grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the EU from 2014 onwards
(2013/C 205/05)
Section A. GENERAL ISSUES
1. These guidelines set out the conditions under which the Commission will implement key requirements for the award of EU support to Israeli entities or to their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967. Their aim is to ensure the respect of EU positions and commitments in conformity with international law on the non-recognition by the EU of Israel’s sovereignty over the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967. These guidelines are without prejudice to other requirements established by EU legislation.
2. The territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 comprise the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
3. The EU does not recognise Israel’s sovereignty over any of the territories referred to in point 2 and does not consider them to be part of Israel’s territory (1 ), irrespective of their legal status under domestic Israeli law (2) . The EU has made it clear that it will not recognise any changes to pre-1967 borders, other than those agreed by the parties to the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) (3) . The EU’s Foreign Affairs Council has underlined the importance of limiting the application of agreements with Israel to the territory of Israel as recognised by the EU ( 4).
4. These guidelines do not cover EU support in the form of grants, prizes or financial instruments awarded to Palestinian entities or to their activities in the territories referred to in point 2, nor any eligibility conditions set up for this purpose. In particular, they do not cover any agreements between the EU, on the one hand, and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation or the Palestinian Authority, on the other hand.
Section B. SCOPE OF APPLICATION
5. These guidelines apply to EU support in the form of grants, prizes or financial instruments within the meaning of Titles
(1 ) On the territorial application of the EU-Israel Association Agreement see Case C-386/08 Brita [2010] ECR I-1289, paragraphs 47 and 53.
VI, VII and VIII of the Financial Regulation (5 ) which may be awarded to Israeli entities or to their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967. Their application is without prejudice to specific eligibility conditions which may be laid down in the relevant basic act.
6. These guidelines apply:
(a) for grants — to all applicants and beneficiaries, irrespective of their role (sole beneficiary, coordinator or co-beneficiary). This includes entities participating in the action on a no-cost basis ( 6) and affiliated entities within the meaning of Article 122(2) of the Financial Regulation. This does not include contractors or sub- contractors selected by grant beneficiaries in conformity with procurement rules. As regards third parties referred to in Article 137 of the Financial Regulation, in the cases where the costs of financial support to such third parties are eligible under a call for proposals the authorising officer responsible may, where appropriate, specify in the call for proposals and in the grant agreements or decisions that the eligibility criteria set out in these guidelines also apply to the persons that may receive financial support by the beneficiaries;
(b) for prizes — to all participants and winners in contests;
(c) for financial instruments — to dedicated investment vehicles, financial intermediaries and sub-intermediaries and to final recipients.
7. These guidelines apply to grants, prizes and financial instruments managed, as the case may be, by the Commission, by executive agencies (direct management) or by bodies entrusted with budget implementation tasks in accordance with Article 58(1)(c) of the Financial Regulation (indirect management).
8. These guidelines apply to grants, prizes and financial instruments funded from appropriations of the 2014
(2 ) Under Israeli law, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights are annexed to the State of Israel, whereas the Gaza Strip and the rest of the West Bank are referred to as ‘the territories’.
(3 ) See inter alia the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on the MEPP adopted in December 2009, December 2010, April 2011, May and December 2012.
(4 ) The Foreign Affairs Council conclusions on the MEPP adopted on 10 December 2012 state that ‘all agreements between the State of Israel and the EU must unequivocally and explicitly indicate their inapplicability to the territories occupied by Israel in 1967’.
(5 ) Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union and repealing Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 (OJ L 298, 26.10.2012, p. 1).
(6 ) In which case the Israeli entity will finance its participation with funding from other sources, but will nonetheless be treated as a beneficiary and may therefore have access to know-how, services, networking and other opportunities developed by the other beneficiaries as a result of the EU grant.
financial year and subsequent years and authorised by financing decisions adopted after the adoption of the guidelines.
Section C. CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY OF ISRAELI ENTITIES
9. As regards the place of establishment of Israeli entities:
(a) In the case of grants and prizes, only Israeli entities having their place of establishment within Israel’s pre- 1967 borders will be considered eligible;
(b) In the case of financial instruments, only Israeli entities having their place of establishment within Israel’s pre- 1967 borders will be considered eligible as final recipients.
10. The place of establishment is understood to be the legal address where the entity is registered, as confirmed by a precise postal address corresponding to a concrete physical location. The use of a post office box is not allowed.
11. The requirements set out in section C:
(a) apply to the following types of legal persons: Israeli regional or local authorities and other public bodies, public or private companies or corporations and other private legal persons, including non-governmental not- for-profit organisations;
(b) do not apply to Israeli public authorities at national level (ministries and government agencies or authorities);
(c) do not apply to natural persons.
Section D. CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY OF ACTIVITIES IN THE TERRITORIES OCCUPIED BY ISRAEL
12. As regards the activities/operations of Israeli entities:
(a) In the case of grants and prizes, the activities of Israeli entities carried out in the framework of EU-funded grants and prizes will be considered eligible if they do not take place in the territories referred to in point 2, either partially or entirely;
(b) In the case of financial instruments, Israeli entities will be considered eligible as final recipients if they do not operate in the territories referred to in point 2, either in the framework of EU-funded financial instruments or otherwise.
13. Any activity or part thereof (1) included in an application for an EU grant or prize which does not meet the requirements set out in point 12(a) will be considered as ineligible and will not be considered as part of the application for the purpose of its further evaluation.
14. The requirements set out in section D:
(a) apply to activities under point 12 carried out by the following types of legal persons: Israeli regional or local authorities and other public bodies, public or private companies or corporations and other private legal persons, including non-governmental not-for- profit organisations;
(b) apply also to activities under point 12 carried out by Israeli public authorities at national level (ministries and government agencies or authorities);
(c) do not apply to activities under point 12 carried out by natural persons.
15. Notwithstanding points 12-14 above, the requirements set out in section D do not apply to activities which, although carried out in the territories referred to in point 2, aim at benefiting protected persons under the terms of international humanitarian law who live in these territories and/or at promoting the Middle East peace process in line with EU policy ( 2 ).
Section E. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS
16. Each Israeli entity referred to in points 11(a) and (b) and 14(a) and (b), which applies for an EU grant, prize or financial instrument, shall submit a declaration on honour as follows:
(a) In the case of grants and prizes, the declaration will state that the application of the Israeli entity is in accordance with the requirements under points 9(a) and 12(a) of these guidelines, while also taking into account the applicability of point 15 thereof (3 ). For grants, this declaration will be drafted in accordance with Article 131(3) of the Financial Regulation;
(b) In the case of financial instruments, the declaration will state that the application of the Israeli entity as a final recipient is in accordance with the requirements under points 9(b) and 12(b) of these guidelines.
(1 ) For example, these could be nation-wide projects to be implemented in Israel, which involve both activities within pre-1967 borders and activities beyond pre-1967 borders (e.g. in settlements).
(2 ) For example, these could be activities under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, the Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility and/or the Partnership for Peace programme.
(3 ) In the case of Israeli public authorities at national level (ministries and government agencies/authorities), the declaration will contain an address for communication purposes that is within Israel’s pre-1967 borders and that complies with point 10.
17. The declarations under point 16 are without prejudice to any other supporting documents required in the calls for proposals, rules of contests or calls for the selection of financial intermediaries or dedicated investment vehicles. They will be included in the package of application documents for each concerned call for proposals, rules of contests and call for the selection of financial intermediaries or dedicated investment vehicles. Their text will be adapted to the requirements relevant for each EU grant, prize or financial instrument.
18. The submission of a declaration under point 16 that contains incorrect information may be considered as a case of misrepresentation or a serious irregularity and may lead:
(a) for grants — to the measures set out in Articles 131(5) and 135 of the Financial Regulation;
(b) for prizes — to the measures set out in Article 212(1)(viii) of the Rules of Application of the Financial Regulation ( 1 ) and;
(c) for financial instruments — to the measures set out in Article 221(3) of the Rules of Application of the Financial Regulation.
19. The Commission will implement these guidelines in their entirety, and in a clear and accessible manner. It will notably announce the eligibility conditions set out in Sections C and D in the work programmes (2 ) and/or financing decisions, calls for proposals, rules of contests and calls for the selection of financial intermediaries or dedicated investment vehicles.
20. The Commission will ensure that the work programmes and calls for proposals, rules of contests and calls for the selection of financial intermediaries or dedicated investment vehicles published by the bodies entrusted with budget implementation tasks under indirect management contain the eligibility conditions set out in Sections C and D.
21. In order to clearly articulate EU commitments under international law, taking into account relevant EU policies and positions, the Commission will also endeavour to have the content of these guidelines reflected in international agreements or protocols thereto or Memoranda of Understanding with Israeli counterparts or with other parties.
22. The award of EU support to Israeli entities or to their activities in the form of grants, prizes or financial instruments requires engagement with Israeli entities referred to in points 11 and 14, for example, by organising meetings, visits or events. Such engagement will not take place in the territories referred to in point 2, unless it is related to the activities referred to in point 15.
israel-academia-monitor.com 
From: Natan Kopeika kopeika@bgu.ac.il
Date: Thu, Feb 27, 2025 at 5:33 PM
All these territories were given to Israel unanimously by the San Marino Meeting (League of Nations) and the UN Charter item 80 (or 85).
They are the UN constitution and cannot be overruled by UN resolutions.
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Micah Leshem
Thu, Feb 27, 5:26 PM (3 days ago)
Good. Thnx.Scientist cannot be occupiers or parties to ethnic persecution.
Micah
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