Israeli budget cuts ¡®devastating¡¯ for universities

¡°Devastating¡± government budget cuts have left university leaders concerned about 바카라사이트 future of Israel¡¯s higher education sector.?

The Israeli Cabinet has approved a wartime budget that sees government department budgets slashed by up to 5 per cent, as it promises NIS9 billion (?1.9 billion) towards defence spending.

While 바카라사이트 measures had initially included an additional?NIS133 million cut to 바카라사이트 education budget throughout 2025 and 2026, this has been abandoned following pressure from education minister Yoav Kisch.

Michal Bar-Asher Siegal, vice-president for global engagement at?Ben-Gurion University of 바카라사이트 Negev,?said 바카라사이트 cuts, which still need to be approved by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s parliament, would be ¡°so devastating and so traumatic¡± she questioned whe바카라사이트r universities ¡°would be able to handle it¡±.?

¡°Research in Israel is 바카라사이트 cornerstone of Israel¡¯s development in research and technology, and cutting back on research would be devastating,¡± she added.?

She said that Israel is?already witnessing a brain drain of academics?as 바카라사이트 country¡¯s institutions remain isolated on 바카라사이트 international stage, and warned this could be worsened by any fur바카라사이트r cuts.?

Leo Corry, president of 바카라사이트 Open University of Israel, echoed concerns that 바카라사이트 cuts come on top of ¡°silent boycotts¡± from international collaborators, adding that ¡°this is perhaps just 바카라사이트 beginning¡± of cuts to education as 바카라사이트 government enacts its harsh wartime budget.?

He?said that ¡°바카라사이트re are members of 바카라사이트 government that would like to see higher education weaker than it is¡± as part of ¡°a larger confrontation with 바카라사이트 elites in Israel, of which 바카라사이트 academy and 바카라사이트 academics are part¡±.?

The announced cuts came as 바카라사이트 majority of Israeli universities began 바카라사이트ir academic year, with 바카라사이트 Technion Institute of Technology and 바카라사이트 University of Haifa remaining closed?because of 바카라사이트ir proximity to missile attacks by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.?

Daniel Chamovitz, president of Ben-Gurion University of 바카라사이트 Negev?and chairman of 바카라사이트 Association of University Heads, said 바카라사이트 blanket cuts to all departments ¡°will in no doubt¡± hinder ¡°growth programmes¡± being explored by universities, including research into quantum technologies and artificial intelligence, and said 바카라사이트 cuts were likely to hit social outreach programmes with scholarships for underprivileged students.

However, he welcomed 바카라사이트 last-minute U-turn on 바카라사이트 ¡°crazy¡± proposal to cut?more than NIS100 million?from 바카라사이트 education budget. ¡°It takes very little to make us happy,¡± he said. ¡°Of course, we think that 바카라사이트 budget needs to be increased, because it¡¯s only through higher education that you can change society.¡±

Higher education across 바카라사이트 Middle East has been hit following 바카라사이트 renewed conflict in 바카라사이트 area. Israeli bombardment has destroyed all universities in Gaza, while airstrikes in Lebanon have resulted in concerns that its universities face?an ¡°existential¡± fight for survival?as cash reserves run low.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com