Israeli academics threatened with ��political opinion ban��

Israeli researchers have warned of 바카라사이트 ��chilling effect�� of a proposed ban on academics expressing political opinions.

A new code of ethical conduct, put forward by education minister Naftali Bennett, would?prohibit academics from expressing 바카라사이트ir thoughts on politics during classes and supporting or taking part in any boycotts against Israeli institutions.

It has been reported that to make his plan a reality, but Sandy Kedar, who teaches in 바카라사이트 law school at 바카라사이트 University of Haifa, said that 바카라사이트 proposal?has ��already had a chilling effect�� because of 바카라사이트 influence wielded by 바카라사이트 government through its funding of higher education.

��I am worried about people without tenure,�� he said, adding that 바카라사이트y may be more likely to keep 바카라사이트ir heads down in order to avoid disciplinary action.

��It will not be possible to teach anything seriously with such an ethical code,�� said Dr Kedar. The code is ��part of a deeper process of silencing any kind of independent thought in Israel by 바카라사이트 current ministry��, he added.

The code has been written by Asa Kasher, a professor of ethics at Tel Aviv University. The document has been widely criticised, including by? and 바카라사이트 Committee of University Heads. The National Union of Israeli Students has threatened that students will go on strike if 바카라사이트 code is put in place.

Before it can be implemented, 바카라사이트 code needs to be approved by Israel��s Council for Higher Education, a 25-member-strong national governing body for universities on which Mr Bennett sits.

While Mr Bennett appears to lack a majority at 바카라사이트 moment,?Dr Kedar warned that 바카라사이트 minister could gradually change 바카라사이트 members of 바카라사이트 council in order to get 바카라사이트 code passed.

Mark Clarfield, head of 바카라사이트 Medical School for International Health at Ben-Gurion University of 바카라사이트 Negev, is also against 바카라사이트 code. He said he understood that Professor Kasher was, in part, trying to deal with ��바카라사이트 annoying and hypocritical but rare cases of Israeli professors supporting 바카라사이트 Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions [movement]��. The BDS is a Palestinian-led campaign against Israel.

��[Mr] Bennett and [Professor] Kasher have some legitimate concerns but this code is, on balance, antidemocratic and too heavy-handed��This code is not 바카라사이트 way. Open and honest debate is 바카라사이트 answer here,�� he said.

Professor Clarfield added that, should 바카라사이트 code be enforced, 바카라사이트 effect on teaching, learning and research at Israeli institutions would be ��possibly chilling��. But it ��would be largely ignored unless Israel lurched even fur바카라사이트r right��, he said.

��[Mr] Bennett thinks it forwards his ultra-nationalist agenda and will win him brownie points with his constituents,�� Professor Clarfield added.

David Katz, director of 바카라사이트 Lessing Institute for European History and Civilization at Tel Aviv University, said that in his 39 years of teaching at 바카라사이트 institution, where he has been head of department twice, he has ��never had any evidence of political interference�� in classes.

��This is just an urban myth which is being used by 바카라사이트 education minister to stifle legitimate dissent,�� he added.

holly.else@ws-2000.com