Draft Israeli law to limit academic speech labelled ‘McCarthyite’
Draft Israeli law to limit academic speech labelled ‘McCarthyite’
Law allowing committee to fire staff for ‘supporting terror’ backed by education minister and national student union
The legislation, currently being debated in the Knesset, would give a government-appointed committee the power to order the firing of academic staff that it decides have expressed “support for terror”. If the universities refuse, their funding would be cut.
One of the academics targeted, Anat Matar from the philosophy department at Tel Aviv University, said the role of students in drafting and promoting a law to silence their lecturers was particularly disturbing.
“Whether or not it passes, a significant damage has already been done,” she said. “The mere fact that it is supported by the national student union and by many local student unions, and that there is hardly any protest among students against, it manifests another step down the ladder towards full-blown fascism.”
Israel’s descent into fascism for Israelis -it always was fascist to Palestinians- is actually a good thing. Maybe liberals can stop with “it is the only democracy in the Middle East”, which was never true.
I want to see the Israeli right go after everyone who isn’t totally fash. Accelerationism is exactly what Israel needs. It is not a normal country and shouldn’t pretend to be. Normal people who live there should either leave or become fascist themselves.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Critics say the legislation is fundamentally undemocratic and would undermine Israeli academia, because it restricts free speech and allows politicians to weaponise accusations that should be handled by the legal system.
Sivan said the legislation was dangerous for its broad restrictions and its narrow focus on universities, adding that Israel already had laws against incitement to terror that cover all residents.
“What they are trying to do is subject academics to stricter rules than other residents of Israel, where a violation of state laws is not judged in court but rather by a government-appointed administrator, with no process or opportunity for the accused one to defend him or herself.
The Association of University Heads, Israel (Vera) said in a public letter that the student union billboards backing the law were a divisive “campaign of persecution and incitement” that could lead to violence.
One of the academics targeted, Anat Matar from the philosophy department at Tel Aviv University, said the role of students in drafting and promoting a law to silence their lecturers was particularly disturbing.
Vera warned in a public letter that the draft law would also fuel international sanctions campaigns against Israeli universities by undermining their academic independence.
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