Israeli Higher Education Council Mandates Institutional Neutrality in Academia

The Council for Higher Education in Israel (CHE) has approved a decision requiring academic institutions to maintain institutional neutrality and refrain from promoting political positions or campaigns. This resolution was passed on Tuesday, just one day after five council members resigned in protest against a law permitting gender-segregated study tracks in advanced degrees. The resigning members were Professors Uri Sivan, Tamir Shafir, Daniel Haimovitch, Yaffa Zilbershatz, and Yossi Mekori.

Education Minister and CHE chairman Yoav Kish welcomed the decision, emphasizing that academia should not be used to advance political agendas. Kish stated that while the law provides a legal framework for segregation tracks, no institution is obligated to implement them, and policy decisions remain with the CHE. He accused university presidents of pressuring their representatives to resign to create a political crisis and pledged to appoint new council members.

The new policy prohibits institutions from using their status, resources, or authority to promote political stances, including statements or actions by presidents, management, or senior officials acting on behalf of the institution. However, the CHE clarified that this does not restrict academic freedom or freedom of expression for students, researchers, or faculty, who may continue to express personal views as private citizens.

Kish highlighted that the decision aims to restore public trust in higher education and ensure that academia remains a space for open research, teaching, and learning without institutional political bias.