Academia Group Warns Education Minister to Halt Higher Education Council Appointments Amid Election Period

On Tuesday, a warning letter was sent to Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch demanding a halt to the appointment process for new members of the Council for Higher Education (CHE). The letter, issued by the organization Academia for a Democratic Israel, argues that advancing appointments during the election period violates the principle of governmental restraint and disregards guidelines from the State Attorney's office. The group expressed concern over Kisch's direct involvement at every stage of the appointment process, which only began after the start of the election recess, suggesting potential political motives and threats to the CHE's independence.

The letter also claims that Kisch proceeded with the appointments despite the Committee of University Presidents requesting the State Attorney's opinion, and allegedly announced a candidate's appointment before completing the consultation process. Academia for a Democratic Israel demands freezing the appointments until the State Attorney's position is received and warns that if the process continues, they will consider petitioning the High Court of Justice (Bagatz).