Israel's Education Minister Attempts to Appoint New Council Members Ahead of Elections
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Israel's Education Minister Yoav Kisch is attempting to appoint three new members to the Council for Higher Education just two weeks before elections. This follows the resignation of five members in protest of a gender segregation law. The Committee of Heads of Universities called the move an "illegal hijacking" and vowed to fight it, while Kisch cited a lack of quorum for decision-making.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Education Minister Yoav Kisch seeks to appoint three new members to the Council for Higher Education two weeks before elections.
- Five current members resigned in protest of a law expanding gender segregation in academia.
- The Committee of Heads of Universities called the appointments an "illegal hijacking" and a violation of proper conduct.
- Kisch claims the appointments are necessary due to a lack of quorum for decision-making.
- The resignations were strategically timed to prevent new appointments before the elections.
Two weeks before elections, Israel's Minister of Education, Yoav Kisch, is attempting to appoint three new members to the Council for Higher Education (CHE). This move comes after five CHE members, including four academics, resigned on July 20 in protest against a law expanding gender segregation in academia. The resignations were timed to coincide with the Knesset's dissolution, aiming to prevent Kisch from making new appointments and hindering the council's policy-making abilities.
Despite the resignations, which included three university representatives and one college representative, Kisch intends to appoint three female lecturers from colleges: Professor Berta Schwartz from Peres Academic Center, Professor Miri Weiss Cohen from Braude College of Engineering, and Professor Rachel Sharabi from Ashkelon Academic College. Kisch stated the need for these appointments arises because council member and former Knesset Member Roi Folkman is running for the Knesset, which will suspend his council membership and likely end it entirely after the elections. This situation has left the CHE without a quorum for significant policy decisions.
Kisch argued that the shortage of active CHE members impedes the council's continuous and proper functioning. He also noted that the current council's term ends in April 2027, implying these appointments would not prevent a future education minister from forming their own council. However, the Committee of Heads of Universities (CHU) condemned the move as an "illegal hijacking" and a violation of proper administrative conduct, stating they have formally appealed to the minister and the Attorney General and intend to use all available means to oppose the appointments.
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