Law Students Protest "Political Indoctrination" at Ono Academic College
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Law students at Ono Academic College, including reservists and settlers, are protesting a final assignment that required them to justify a Palestinian petition against Israel, which used the term "settler terrorists." Students allege the professor, Avner Ben Zaken, exhibited political bias and made offensive remarks throughout the course. The college stated the assignment aimed to analyze the petitioners' claims and has since clarified the term was a quote.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Law students at Ono Academic College filed a complaint against Professor Avner Ben Zaken over a biased assignment.
- The assignment required students to justify a Palestinian petition against Israel using the term "settler terrorists."
- Students, including reservists and settlers, accused the professor of political indoctrination and offensive remarks.
- The college stated the assignment was to analyze the petitioners' claims and clarified the term was a quote.
- The students demand an academic environment allowing diverse viewpoints without penalty.
Law students at Ono Academic College, including reservists and residents of Judea and Samaria, have filed a sharp complaint against Professor Avner Ben Zaken, accusing him of political bias and offensive remarks. The students were assigned a final project in a jurisprudence course requiring them to draft a legal opinion justifying a Palestinian petition against Israel. This petition reportedly uses the term "settler terrorists" to describe individuals who allegedly forced Palestinians to leave their homes.
The students claim the assignment, which asks them to act as legal advisors to the Supreme Court and support the petition based on philosophical texts, dictates a predetermined conclusion. They argue this stifles critical thinking and open legal debate, especially given that some students are themselves settlers or have lost friends in conflict. The complaint alleges that Professor Ben Zaken has a history of political indoctrination in his classes, silencing opposing views and making disparaging remarks about IDF soldiers and government ministers, even comparing ministers to Nazis.
The controversy arises amid broader criticism of campaigns against Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria. The students emphasized that while they do not oppose discussing controversial issues or criticizing government policy, they demand an academic environment that allows for the exploration of all viewpoints without fear of academic penalty. They are calling on the college administration to investigate the professor's conduct and the assignment's wording.
Ono Academic College responded that the assignment was designed to analyze a petition where the term "settler terrorists" was used by the Palestinian petitioners. The college stated that students were asked to engage with the petitioners' claims, as lawyers do daily. Following the students' complaint, the professor was asked to clarify that the term was a quote from the petitioners, which he did.