\n Israel’s education minister Yoav Kisch is advancing measures to restrict protests and political expression at universities, prompting concerns over academic freedom and free speech. [Getty]<\/p>\n
Rights groups have raised alarm over a government-backed proposal that could restrict political activity<\/a> in Israeli universities, warning it risks undermining academic freedom and further silencing Palestinian voices on campus<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speaking to The New Arab on Saturday, Index on Censorship said the proposed measures \u2013 framed as promoting “institutional neutrality” \u2013 could significantly curb freedom of expression<\/a> within higher education institutions.<\/p>\n “The main concerns are that a series of measures, including efforts to ensure teaching is not impeded on campus, are being dressed up as benign when they\u2019re anything but,” Jemimah Steinfeld, CEO of Index on Censorship, told The New Arab.<\/p>\n “For academic freedom to flourish people can\u2019t be second guessing if what they say takes them away from being neutral. One also has to ask what is even meant by neutrality? Who gets to decide? It smacks of political interference, which is the antithesis of neutrality, and which will turn universities away from founding principles of enquiry and open debate.”<\/p>\n Steinfeld said the proposals do not align with international standards on freedom of expression and academic freedom, warning they could create a chilling effect across campuses.<\/p>\n “It will further chill speech for Palestinians on campus, who we\u2019ve already seen being targeted in various ways. Ultimately it could be a race to the bottom \u2013 people will self-censor and those who don\u2019t may be punished, which will then lead to more who self-censor,” she added.<\/p>\n Palestinian and Israeli rights groups, including Adalah, have previously raised concerns over what they describe as the repression of Palestinian students at Israeli universities and colleges, particularly since the outbreak of Israel\u2019s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023.<\/p>\n Palestinian students who are citizens of Israel <\/a>have faced increased disciplinary measures from academic institutions over social media activity, expressions of Palestinian identity, religious beliefs, or criticism of Israel\u2019s military campaign in Gaza. Rights groups say these measures have disproportionately targeted Palestinian students and have been supported by the Israeli Ministry of Education.<\/p>\n “We\u2019ve seen how Netanyahu\u2019s government has attacked the media, and indeed tried to neuter the Supreme Court several years ago,” Steinfeld said. “We\u2019ve seen a heavy-handed approach to protesters too. There\u2019s really nothing subtle here. All the main pillars of a free society are being destabilised.”<\/p>\n Proposed \u201cneutrality\u201d policy<\/p>\n The concerns come amid a government-backed initiative that could impose new limits on political expression within Israeli academia.<\/p>\n First reported by Haaretz, the measure \u2014 referred to as \u201cinstitutional neutrality\u201d \u2014 is being advanced by the Council for Higher Education, chaired by Education Minister Yoav Kisch<\/a>, and is expected to be approved at the council\u2019s upcoming meeting later this month.<\/p>\n According to the Israeli publication, the council circulated a draft decision to higher education institutions earlier this week, requiring university and college presidents to commit to “maintaining institutional neutrality on political issues”.<\/p>\n The proposal would prevent academic leaders from using their authority to “promote a political position or struggle” amid what the council described as an “escalation in public and political discourse in Israel and worldwide.”<\/p>\n Haaretz further reported that the draft bars presidents from making statements or taking actions that could be interpreted as political, requiring them to “act in accordance with the principle of institutional neutrality and will not use their authority or status to lead, organize, encourage or approve institutional activity of a political nature.”<\/p>\n While lecturers and students would still be permitted to express political views and “participate in public discourse,” this would only apply in a private capacity \u2014 provided such activity is not linked to their institutional roles or disrupts regular academic activity.<\/p>\n