The Senate of the Hebrew University warned that the judicial reform being advanced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will harm academia in Israel in a statement published on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Senate of the Hebrew University convened a special meeting on preserving the independence of the judiciary.
The president of the university, Asher Cohen, and the rector, Tamir Sheafer, stated that the university's management would help as much as possible to provide infrastructure for faculty members who want to bring to light their relevant professional expertise in issues related to the proposed reform.
"The initiative being discussed these days by the Knesset to nullify the independence of the judicial branch and the framework of legal advisors severely harms democracy and could lead to severe harm to human rights," said the Senate in the statement.
"In addition to the risk presented to equality before the law, human rights and personal freedoms, the coup d'état places Israeli academia at risk as well," warned the Senate.
"Since its establishment, the State of Israel has relied on academic excellence, which serves as an important contribution to economic, diplomatic and cultural achievements and to protect the resilience and strength of Israeli society," continued the statement, adding that the independence of the judicial system is essential for the functioning of the academic system.
"If the planned attack on the independence of the judiciary is realized, the science communications, collaborations with researchers around the world and even investments in research from international funds will be impacted."
Hebrew U. Senate points to Poland, Hungary to warn of reform's consequences
The Senate pointed to political developments in recent years in Poland and Hungary to show how an attack on the judiciary could allow political interference in the curriculum at universities and negatively impact the independence of researchers and academic freedom.
Such impacts could lead to sanctions from international funds, which would result in an immediate impact on Israel's academic excellence and the quality of research in the country.
"The planned harm must cause concern for every citizen in the State of Israel who aims to live in a proper democratic society, in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence. The members of the Senate, who hold a range of political beliefs, absolutely oppose the steps which will spell a fundamental change to the form of government in Israel. The exploitation of a parliamentary majority to trample the fundamental values and the rules of the game of democracy poses a tangible threat to the future of the state."
The Hebrew University Senate called on the leadership of the university to issue a clear position on the issue of the judicial reform.
Statement from Reichman University
Also on Thursday, members of Reichman University's Supreme Academic Committee announced:
"Reichman University declared from its first day that it was a Zionist university in the spirit of the principles of the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel.
"The Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel constitutes self-determination of the state.
"Basic Law: Human Dignity and Freedom states that 'the fundamental rights of a person in Israel are based on the recognition of the value of the person in the sanctity of his life and his being a free person in the spirit of the principles in the declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel.'
"The legislative proposals proposed today by the government will harm the constitutional protection of human rights and are against the Declaration of Independence and the Basic Law of Human Dignity and Freedom.
"Faced with the...speed with which basic rights can be abolished by the proposed laws, the university will work for the establishment of a constitution for Israel that will provide a safe defense for us to be free citizens in our country and for the democratic regime in the country."