Hebrew University Stands by Professor Who Called Israel an Occupying and Criminal State

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has declined to take disciplinary action against Professor Norman Matans following a controversial post he published last year. In the post, Matans described Israel as a "land of occupation" and claimed that "crime is a profession" within the country. He accused Israeli security forces of deliberately killing innocent civilians, including children, and alleged that they intentionally target emergency ambulances without investigation, ordering their destruction as part of a systematic policy rather than isolated incidents.

Matans' post began with a narrative about a seemingly ordinary man who is actually a senior security official involved in these actions. He further accused this figure of participating in protests against the government, mocking the prime minister whom he labeled a "criminal against democracy," while simultaneously being responsible for civilian deaths. The professor expanded these accusations to thousands of security personnel, framing the entire security apparatus as complicit in these crimes.

In response to inquiries from the news outlet C14, the Hebrew University stated that Matans' views are his personal opinions and do not reflect the institution's stance. The university emphasized that the post was published outside the scope of his academic work and did not indicate any intention to initiate formal proceedings against him. Neither Matans nor the Council for Higher Education has issued a response to the controversy as of now.

This episode highlights tensions surrounding academic freedom and political expression in Israel, especially when it involves severe criticism of state policies and actions. The university's decision not to discipline Matans may fuel further debate on the limits of acceptable discourse within Israeli academia.