A commentary published on Friday argues that Israeli academia, despite presenting itself as a space of free expression and pluralism, is systematically skewed toward the political left and gives almost no platform to conservative voices. The piece says recent conferences and campus events show a consistent pattern in which left-wing lecturers and activists are invited to shape public discourse, while right-wing positions are effectively erased.
The article points to the Open University of Israel as a key example. It says Prof. Asaf Sharon, head of Tel Aviv University’s PPE program, appeared in a meeting with Open University students and described the right as the most extreme and problematic force in Israeli society. According to the article, he also called the national security minister a fascist. The writer says some students were shocked and voiced criticism of what they saw as blatant politicization.
The article further claims that the Open University recently held a conference on what it called “settler violence,” with only left-wing activists invited, and no right-wing speakers to present a counterview. It says another speaker at the university argued that the violence in Judea and Samaria stems from the makeup of the army, which he described as consisting of people from religious Zionist and development-town backgrounds.
The text also cites Dr. Ronit Levin Schnur of Tel Aviv University, who said the academy and the protest movement belong to a left-wing elite and that their role is to persuade the public to replace those elected by voters. The article says the Open University declined to comment.
