China’s first university in Israel closes, pulls out

The first Chinese university established in Israel has shut down after three years, weeks after pausing new enrolments amid Israel’s war on Gaza.

The university was a branch of Beijing’s University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), which had received approval from Israel’s Council for Higher Education and was recognised as an academic institution.

While China has been critical of Israel’s war on Gaza and the university is operated under the Chinese government, there is no confirmation on whether Israel’s war was the reason why the institution had shut down.

The initiative for the university was led by Major General Matan Vilnai, a former Israeli ambassador to China, who confirmed to Yedioth Ahronoth that the university has closed.

Vilnai added that no new students are being admitted, describing it as “a great shame”.

The Chinese authorities decided to cease operations despite plans to expand and establish a research institute, with land already allocated in Petah Tikva for a new campus to be constructed.

Chinese professors and students, along with Israeli students, have reportedly returned to China and have expressed no desire to go back to Israel.

The university operated temporarily in Petah Tikva and offered a bachelor’s degree in business administration to Israeli and Chinese students. Tuition was set at $9,200 a year.

China has been vocal on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and calling for a two-state solution, also brokering an agreement between Palestinian political groups – which Israel has been against.

UIBE announced in August it would halt new student enrolments in the autumn at its campus in Israel due to “difficulties” posed by Israel’s war on Gaza. The university’s vice president says the suspension was “unrelated to political relations between Israel and China”.

Universities across Israel have closed amid a nationwide strike after six captives were found dead.

The state’s largest trade union called a general strike, demanding the government to secure the release of captives in Gaza.

Israel has bombed every single university in Gaza and 370 schools, with Gaza’s Ministry of Education suspending the 2023-2024 school year in November due to Israel’s assault on schools and other facilities.