ISRAEL

Minister defends bid to ban politics in universities

Education Minister Naftali Bennett, and a university professor he commissioned to write a code of ethics that would prevent academics from expressing political opinions, both defended the controversial document from harsh criticism, writes Stuart Winer for The Times of Israel.

The code, written by Asa Kasher, drew a slew of criticism from politicians and academics after the contents of the document were reported on recently.

Under the proposed code of ethics lecturers would be prohibited from airing their political opinions during teaching sessions and from participating in, or voicing support for, academic boycotts against Israeli institutions, a measure that has been pushed by pro-Palestinian campaigners around the world. Bennett said last week that the measure would serve to protect freedom of speech and Kasher asserted it would keep academia free of political pollution.
Full report on The Times of Israel site