Two weeks before Israel’s national elections, Education Minister Yoav Kisch is advancing efforts to appoint new members to the Higher Education Council, despite objections from the attorney general’s office and opposition from university leaders who view the move as a breach of protocol and an overreach of authority.
The Higher Education Council, responsible for overseeing Israel’s academic institutions, has been largely inactive since July, when five members resigned in protest against legislation permitting gender segregation within higher education. The resignations have left the council understaffed and unable to authorize new academic programs, a key function now complicated by the recently enacted law.
The legislation, passed earlier this year, broadens gender segregation in higher education beyond its former scope. Previously limited mainly to Haredi student populations and undergraduate courses with Supreme Court approval, the law now extends to graduate programs and practical training courses for various groups requesting such accommodations. It also allows segregation in additional campus settings such as libraries, laboratories, and cafeterias. The former council members opposed the law, refusing to facilitate what they viewed as discriminatory practices.
Minister Kisch has indicated his intention to use the newly appointed council to implement the statute, as the law requires council approval to launch new academic programs. However, critics argue that making appointments so close to elections conflicts with attorney general guidelines, which advise against significant public appointments during the electoral period to preserve the prerogatives of incoming ministers.
The Committee of University Heads condemned the appointments as an “illegal power grab” that contravenes good governance principles. They stated they had formally contacted both the minister and the attorney general’s office to voice their concerns and pledged to contest the appointments by “every means at our disposal.” The committee further emphasized the detriment caused by last-minute decisions ahead of the election.
In response, Kisch contended in a letter to higher education leaders that the appointments do not violate the guidelines because the current council’s term is set to run until April 2027. According to the minister, this timeline ensures that the new council will not limit the authority or discretion of the next education minister. The process still requires approval from President Isaac Herzog and a vote in the cabinet.
Notably, the minister’s appointments have excluded representatives from research universities, a development occurring amid ongoing tensions with the higher education sector. The evolving dispute underscores broader debates within Israel regarding academic autonomy, religious accommodations, and governance norms in the lead-up to the country’s elections.