Tel Aviv University has appointed Hagai Itkin, a former senior officer in the Mossad, as its vice president for industry relations and entrepreneurship. The announcement, made last month, highlights the growing intersection between Israel's academic institutions and its defense establishment. Local Call reported on Tuesday that this move is viewed by critics as another indicator of the university's close alignment with military and security bodies.
The university justified the hiring by pointing to Itkin's extensive background in the defense sector. It noted that he held senior positions within the military structure and had been on campus for several years prior to the formal appointment. During that time, he worked to establish connections with the high-tech industry. Itkin retired from the Mossad in 2020 after serving for nearly two decades.
In a 2022 interview with Channel 12 News, Itkin discussed his work in the agency's technology department. He stated that Israel possesses the necessary capabilities to conduct targeted assassinations. He further explained that such operations are carried out with maximum consideration for collateral damage and innocent bystanders.
The university's relationship with the defense sector is set to expand further with the hosting of DefenseTech Week next month. This will be the second consecutive year that Tel Aviv University organizes the event. The conference is described as a premier gathering for experts in defense technology, aiming to showcase Israel's advanced solutions for global security challenges.
The event's website asserts that Israel is ideally suited to host such a gathering due to its position at the forefront of defense technology development. It claims the conference will provide insights into how the country's advancements are reshaping the global defense landscape. The university is co-organizing the December event with the Directorate of Defence Research and Development at the Israeli Defence Ministry.
A diverse group of sponsors supports the conference, including Israeli and American arms manufacturers. Among the 22 sponsors is Shield AI, a US-based company focused on autonomous pilots. Other supporters include Israel's three major arms producers, Rafael, Elbit, and Israel Aerospace Industries, as well as the US defense giant Lockheed Martin. The speaker lineup features senior military officials, former US Army officers, industry executives, and academics from both countries.
Critics argue that these actions position the university firmly within the nexus of war, weapons, and business. Local Call suggested that by appointing Itkin and hosting the conference, Tel Aviv University takes a stand on these connections. The report accused the institution of overlooking the use of Israeli arms in the occupied territories to suppress, expel, and kill Palestinians.
The report further stated that the university's efforts reflect a deep and ongoing ideological, political, and economic line among Israel's universities. This dynamic has been a subject of debate for some time, with observers noting the persistent overlap between academic research and military application.
New Profile, an Israeli NGO dedicated to demilitarizing society, has previously highlighted the silence of academic institutions during the war in Gaza. The group noted that universities often adopted militaristic rhetoric and continued cooperating with the military and arms industry. In April, the organization emphasized that academia's role in supporting the security establishment had become more pronounced.
Middle East Eye has previously reported on specific collaborations between Tel Aviv University and the military. The university boasted of helping to develop live dog cameras for the army's canine unit. Additionally, an academic at the institution previously called for the starvation and extermination of Gaza's population, a statement that drew significant attention to the university's public stance.
