25 Summer 2025 what actually takes place on Israeli campuses. That said, Israeli universities must also take responsibility by critically examining their own policies and practices. Strengthening their commitment to tolerance, free speech, and engagement in public discourse is not only intrinsically important, but may also improve the international reputation of Israeli academia. One key area is the role of university campuses as spaces for open and constructive dialogue among all sectors of Israeli society, especially between Jews and Arabs. On one hand, Israeli universities have made significant efforts to promote equality between Jews and Arab-Palestinians. Around 18% of students in Israeli universities are now Arab-Palestinian, roughly reflecting their proportion within Israel’s population. This outcome is the result of deliberate, institutional efforts aimed at integration, equality, and social mobility. Yet mere coexistence in classrooms is not enough. Universities should take a more active role in fostering meaningful dialogue and interaction between Jewish and Arab students and faculty. Israeli universities are generally characterized by a relatively high level of tolerance for the expression of diverse views by students and faculty. University administrations have consistently opposed legislative proposals currently under discussion in the Knesset, which would severely restrict free speech on campus. However, they have tended to be passive in addressing informal, yet pervasive, threats to free expression. Over the past year and a half, during the war in Gaza, many Arab members of the academic community have felt silenced. This outcome is only in small part the result of administrative action (though some students were sanctioned, sometimes without due process, for social media posts made outside academic contexts, based on the concern that making statements that can be read as expressing support in attacking Israel would undermine social cohesion on campus). Rather, many Arab members of the academic community in Israel feel silenced because of peer pressure and hostility from segments of the Jewish academic community. This hostility has often targeted expressions of empathy for Gaza’s civilian population or criticisms of alleged Israeli war crimes. Furthermore, campus environments frequently avoid open discussion – especially joint dialogue between Jews and Arabs – about the conflict, particularly the current war. Students seldom have opportunities for deep, honest engagement with peers from other communities, to hear each other’s stories, share fears, and explore pathways to peace and justice. University administrations should take a more proactive role in creating such opportunities. They should offer greater protection and reassurance to students wishing to express their views freely. They should also develop a greater number of courses and initiatives designed to enhance mutual understanding across communities. Additionally, Israeli universities should welcome thoughtful dialogue with international students and faculty, aimed at understanding the roots of the current crisis and seeking ways forward. Simply permitting free expression is not enough; institutions must actively create environments in which they can thrive. A second area is the universities’ role in the broader public discourse. While faculty have played a visible role in grassroots efforts to defend Israeli democracy, university administrations have largely stayed on the sidelines. Though they have allowed students and staff to participate – sometimes even permitting class cancellations – to a large extent they have refrained from active engagement themselves. This reticence is especially apparent when it comes to criticizing the government’s adherence to the rule of law, both domestically and internationally, particularly in the context of the war in Gaza. Universities must reaffirm their unwavering support for the rule of law and the core values of liberal democracy. Israeli democracy – and by extension, the state itself – is under threat. In the past two years, denial of the government’s legal obligations and human rights commitments has become increasingly common. In a landmark 2024 decision, the Israeli Supreme Court opened with these words: Seventy-five years after the historic declaration of Israel’s independence, the State faces two existential threats – one external and one internal.… Israel is engaged in a bloody conflict with a barbaric enemy intent on our destruction. While we will prevail in this external fight, Israeli democracy also faces a severe internal threat… These are critical times, and we must protect the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary, the rule of law, and human rights, namely to protect Israel’s identity, its democratic values, and the principles of the Declaration of Independence. One cannot remain passive.8 8. HCJ 5658/23, The Movement for Quality Government in Israel v. The Knesset, ¶ 1 (Jan. 1, 2024) (Justice Baron).
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