The Israel Prize expresses public appreciation for unique figures who can serve as role models and inspiration • The decision to suspend the award to Prof. Goldreich until it is clarified whether his positions are against the law to prevent harm to the country is important, and sheds a different light on the Supreme Court's familiar conduct • Opinion
Supreme Court
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Oren Ben Hakon
The Supreme Court's decision yesterday that the Israel Prize should not be awarded to Prof. Oded Goldreich on Independence Day until it is clarified whether his positions are against the law to prevent harm to the State of Israel by boycott - is an important decision that sheds a different light on the High Court's familiar conduct.
The Minister of Education is supposed to exhaust the inquiry within 30 days, but it is to be hoped that Prof. Goldreich will respect himself, follow in the footsteps of the late Prof. Yeshayahu Leibowitz and relinquish the prize. The hand of two chief bastards, the prime minister and doing his thing - the Minister of Education. "
If this is how a candidate for the Israel Prize is expressed, and this is the personal example he chooses to represent, it is not surprising that the slime slogans heard at the demonstrations in Balfour.
Education Minister Yoav Galant did well, not moving the agenda on Goldreich's statements calling for a boycott, and his appeals to foreign and hostile elements in the same matter.
I am not an expert in the field of encryption and computational complexity, but I accept the decision of the Israel Prize Judges Committee that Goldreich is a world-renowned scientist.
The Israel Prize is awarded for excellence and achievements in the fields of science and the spirit, as well as for life's work, and it is undisputed that this is the most prestigious award given by the state to its citizens.
This is also the reason why it is called the "Israel Prize".
But scientific excellence is not everything, as the award also expresses public appreciation for unique figures who can serve as role models and inspirations.
No matter how talented a scientist is, signing a petition calling on the EU to boycott academic collaborations with Ariel University - thus working against academic institutions in the country where he lives as a citizen, and trying to harm thousands of students studying at the institution - does not deserve Israeli society.
There is no doubt that even by law it is possible to examine circumstances beyond the professional achievements of the candidate for the award, and considerations concerning the candidate's figure, his statements and the message of values resulting from his selection.
As impressive as professional rights may be, they do not justify awarding a prize to those who call for a boycott of the State of Israel, which is currently in a strong struggle against the BDS - and the seemingly antisemitic motives leading the organization.
Anyone who currently supports such an organization does not deserve the respect of the citizens of the country.
Prof. Goldreich has received and will receive prestigious academic awards, but the Israel Award is not a purely academic award, but is also an expression of public esteem that Prof. Goldreich in my opinion does not deserve.
The panel of the court hearing the petition, Justices Amit, Solberg Wilner, did kindness to the High Court institution, and contributed to the vital fraternity in Israeli society.
