Rights groups have raised alarm over a government-backed proposal that could restrict political activity in Israeli universities, warning it risks undermining academic freedom and further silencing Palestinian voices on campus .
Speaking to The New Arab on Saturday, Index on Censorship said the proposed measures – framed as promoting "institutional neutrality" – could significantly curb freedom of expression within higher education institutions.
"The main concerns are that a series of measures, including efforts to ensure teaching is not impeded on campus, are being dressed up as benign when they’re anything but," Jemimah Steinfeld, CEO of Index on Censorship, told The New Arab .
"For academic freedom to flourish people can’t be second guessing if what they say takes them away from being neutral. One also has to ask what is even meant by neutrality? Who gets to decide? It smacks of political interference, which is the antithesis of neutrality, and which will turn universities away from founding principles of enquiry and open debate."
Steinfeld said the proposals do not align with international standards on freedom of expression and academic freedom, warning they could create a chilling effect across campuses.
"It will further chill speech for Palestinians on campus, who we’ve already seen being targeted in various ways. Ultimately it could be a race to the bottom – people will self-censor and those who don’t may be punished, which will then lead to more who self-censor," she added.
Palestinian and Israeli rights groups, including Adalah, have previously raised concerns over what they describe as the repression of Palestinian students at Israeli universities and colleges, particularly since the outbreak of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023.
Palestinian students who are citizens of Israel have faced increased disciplinary measures from academic institutions over social media activity, expressions of Palestinian identity, religious beliefs, or criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Rights groups say these measures have disproportionately targeted Palestinian students and have been supported by the Israeli Ministry of Education.
"We’ve seen how Netanyahu’s government has attacked the media, and indeed tried to neuter the Supreme Court several years ago," Steinfeld said. "We’ve seen a heavy-handed approach to protesters too. There’s really nothing subtle here. All the main pillars of a free society are being destabilised."
Proposed “neutrality” policy
The concerns come amid a government-backed initiative that could impose new limits on political expression within Israeli academia.
First reported by Haaretz , the measure — referred to as “institutional neutrality” — is being advanced by the Council for Higher Education, chaired by Education Minister Yoav Kisch , and is expected to be approved at the council’s upcoming meeting later this month.
According to the Israeli publication, the council circulated a draft decision to higher education institutions earlier this week, requiring university and college presidents to commit to "maintaining institutional neutrality on political issues".
The proposal would prevent academic leaders from using their authority to "promote a political position or struggle" amid what the council described as an "escalation in public and political discourse in Israel and worldwide."
Haaretz further reported that the draft bars presidents from making statements or taking actions that could be interpreted as political, requiring them to "act in accordance with the principle of institutional neutrality and will not use their authority or status to lead, organize, encourage or approve institutional activity of a political nature."
While lecturers and students would still be permitted to express political views and "participate in public discourse," this would only apply in a private capacity — provided such activity is not linked to their institutional roles or disrupts regular academic activity.
The draft also targets protest-related disruptions , stating: "This includes that no suspensions, sanctions, study stoppages or any other disruption of the institution's regular activity originating from a political dispute or protest will be declared, organized or held by the institution, at its initiative or under its guise." It adds that universities and colleges are "a vital public asset that should not be used as a means to promote political goals."
Kisch has also submitted related legislation to the Ministerial Committee for Legislation. Although discussions have been postponed several times, Haaretz reported that the minister recently indicated he would push forward with the bill, with deliberations expected within weeks.
The move comes amid an ongoing academic boycott of Israel , driven by international criticism over Israel's war on Gaza, which has killed at least 73,221 Palestinians and injured 173,643 since October 2023, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
In May, a report by Israel’s Association of University Heads (VERA) highlighted a sharp escalation in the global academic boycott of Israeli institutions. The findings followed comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in September 2025 acknowledging that Israel had entered "a kind of isolation" and would need to prepare for a more self-reliant economy.