Free Speech Israel

Translation / Interpretation / Caption Text

A protest against the academic 'ethic code,' at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, June 2017
Source:
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/universities-urged-to-bar-professors-from-calling-to-boycott-israel-1.5938431

Analysis / Interpretation / Press

A panel for higher education headed by Education Minister Naftali Bennett adopted a code of ethics Sunday that moves to bar academics from calling for a boycott of Israel. 
The subcommittee of the Council for Higher Education, in adopting this measure and a list of other principles prohibiting discrimination and advocacy based on political beliefs, rejected a controversial ethical code written by Prof. Asa Kasher at Bennett's request.
The heads of the universities in Israel harshly rejected the move, saying they would not agree to be "used as a political thought police for the government." The move "continues the unfortunate line by which the ethical code is political sensorship that crushes underfoot the most basic principles of academic freedom," it added. 
The principles do not mention a specific call to ban academic boycotts in the settlements, but calls for a “ban on discrimination, positive or negative, of students based on their political opinions,” and a “ban on discrimination, positive or negative, of a faculty member or candidate for such or for promotion, based on their political opinions.”
Source:
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/universities-urged-to-bar-professors-from-calling-to-boycott-israel-1.5938431