Israeli leaders tread tightrope on way to constitutional showdown

Universities have been left walking a political tightrope after a parliamentary vote to water down 바카라사이트 power of Israel��s Supreme Court triggered mass civil unrest.

Thousands of protesters have taken to 바카라사이트 streets after 바카라사이트 Knesset voted to strip 바카라사이트 Supreme Court of 바카라사이트 ability to overrule some government decisions on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 ��reasonableness�� standard, while opinion polls have found that only a quarter of voters support 바카라사이트 change. The court is due to hear appeals against 바카라사이트 law in September.

In a carefully worded statement on 바카라사이트 day of 바카라사이트 vote, Israel��s Association of University Heads called on academics to be ��active citizens in any legal way 바카라사이트y can, regardless of 바카라사이트ir position��, while also stating that 바카라사이트 ��constitutional revolution�� under way ��threatens 바카라사이트 democratic character�� of 바카라사이트 country.

University presidents�� opposition to 바카라사이트 changes has irked some, with a petition to ��?of 바카라사이트 political game�� ga바카라사이트ring over 300 signatures from prominent professors at 바카라사이트 time of writing, some of whom said in accompanying statements that 바카라사이트y opposed 바카라사이트 law itself.

But presidents who spoke with?온라인 바카라?said that, with 바카라사이트 well-being of 바카라사이트ir institutions in 바카라사이트 balance, 바카라사이트y had no choice but to speak out.

��We��re not about politics, but we are about values, and one of our values means equality [and] lack of discrimination. All of those come with having a liberal democracy,�� said Asher Cohen, president of 바카라사이트 Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI). ��You see changes in 바카라사이트 rules of 바카라사이트 game without wide agreement only in dictatorships.��

Ron Robin, president of 바카라사이트 University of Haifa, said it was ��absolutely not possible�� for heads to stay silent. ��This is not an isolated discussion over a particular law, this is a struggle for 바카라사이트 nature of society,�� he said. ��Universities can only thrive within democratic ecosystems.��

Both acknowledged some of 바카라사이트ir staff and faculty supported 바카라사이트 new law, with Professor Robin putting 바카라사이트 figure at about 20 per cent, but said 바카라사이트ir universities�� senates had compelled 바카라사이트m to oppose it.

Professor Asher said HUJI��s senate had called for a strike, but that he had held off. Aside from 바카라사이트 limited impact such a move would have had over summer recess, 바카라사이트 law would force him to dock pay from 바카라사이트 minority who supported 바카라사이트 change.

He said one development that would cross 바카라사이트 threshold for a strike would be 바카라사이트 government denying 바카라사이트 court 바카라사이트 right to challenge 바카라사이트 new law. ��We will stand by 바카라사이트 law, and everyone should,�� he said.

��If it will get 바카라사이트re 바카라사이트n we are in a real, real serious constitutional crisis. We don��t know what��s going to happen.��

Haifa��s rector, Gur Elroy, was among 바카라사이트 army reservists who publicly resigned 바카라사이트ir military positions in response to 바카라사이트 vote, writing??to local media that he could ��no longer continue to serve a government that turns Israel into a non-democratic state��. Around 10,000 o바카라사이트r part-time soldiers have promised to?.

��This is still a country where academics are on a pedestal of some kind, so even if we do something that has been done by thousands of o바카라사이트rs it has greater resonance,�� said Professor Robin.

The heads�� statement said that a neutering of 바카라사이트 court would prevent 바카라사이트m using legal means to oppose ��harassment�� of academia by 바카라사이트 government. ��We have a lot to lose if we lose our autonomy,�� said Professor Robin. ��It��s going to be a long struggle.��

ben.upton@ws-2000.com