Video: Arab students demonstrate at Tel Aviv University in support of the "Lion's Den" organization (use under section 27A of the Copyright Law)
Education Minister Yoav Kisch on Monday attacked the heads of universities following the protest that took place during MK Simcha Rotman's speech at Tel Aviv University. "I am not surprised that you have led the academic establishment to this difficult situation," he wrote in a letter to the chairman of the committee of university heads and president of Bar-Ilan University, Prof. Arie Zaban, and to the president of Tel Aviv University, Prof. Ariel Porat. "You are fighting for 'freedom of expression and democracy,' and you claim that flying the PLO flag is part of legitimate rights, but at the same time in recent months you have acted decisively to shut the mouths of right-wingers. You are responsible for the severe violation of freedom of expression in academia. You acted in an extreme political manner. I urge you to come to your senses. You were led to a loss of way."
The students protested his remarks. "The education minister is presenting a 'new discourse,' in which freedom of expression is violence, demonstrators are outlaws, pushing from the police is physical and verbal assault on the part of the demonstrators, and daring to oppose the dictatorship is gagging," the representatives said. "The attempt to harm academia is another stage in the regime coup. Kish asks for loyal university heads, just as Levin asks for loyal legal advisers, and just as Ben-Gvir demands loyal citizens."
"Calling on them to come to their senses." Kish (Photo: official website, Yossi Zamir Netanya Academic College)
"We recommend that Mr. Kish purchase a copy of the 1984 book if he wishes to rewrite the discourse and distort reality," the student protest added. "In the meantime, we will continue to defend democracy. Or as the wisest of us said: 'In a democracy, an elected official is an emissary of the public. If you go to places and encounter contempt, let them think carefully about what happened' – from MK Simcha Rothman's Twitter."
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