developing· Politics· Updated
Israel's Education Minister Attempts to Appoint New Council Members Ahead of Elections
Education Minister Yoav Kisch is attempting to appoint three new members to the Council for Higher Education just two weeks before the Knesset elections. The move is being made despite directives from the Attorney General that prohibit significant new appointments to public bodies so close to an election.
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What happened
- 01Education Minister Yoav Kisch is attempting to appoint three new members to the Council for Higher Education two weeks before the Knesset elections.
- 02The proposed appointments are reportedly being made against the directives of the Attorney General.
- 03The Council for Higher Education has been paralyzed since July, when five members resigned in protest of a gender segregation law.
- 04Minister Kisch stated the appointments are necessary because the council lacks a quorum for making significant policy decisions.
- 05The minister intends to appoint Professor Berta Schwartz, Professor Miri Weiss Cohen, and Professor Rachel Sharabi to the council.
- 06The Committee of Heads of Universities called the move an illegal hijacking and vowed to fight the appointments.
The Council for Higher Education has been paralyzed since July, when five members resigned in protest of a law expanding gender segregation in academia. The resignations, which included three university representatives and one college representative, were strategically timed to coincide with the Knesset's dissolution to prevent new appointments and hinder the council's policy-making abilities.
Minister Kisch argued that the appointments are necessary because the council currently lacks a quorum for significant policy decisions. This shortage is exacerbated by council member Roi Folkman's Knesset candidacy, which will suspend his membership. Kisch intends to appoint three female college lecturers: Professor Berta Schwartz, Professor Miri Weiss Cohen, and Professor Rachel Sharabi.
The Committee of Heads of Universities called the minister's move an illegal hijacking and a violation of proper conduct. The committee announced its intention to fight the appointments in court.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Calcalist. Read Calcalist’s originalThe coverage
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