Kisch Moves to Appoint Council Members Ahead of Elections, Sparks Backlash
Minister of Education Yoav Kisch is moving to appoint three new members to the Council for Higher Education ahead of elections, drawing fierce condemnation from university heads who call it an illegal maneuver.
Two weeks before the elections, Minister of Education Yoav Kisch is attempting to appoint three new members to the Council for Higher Education. The Association of University Heads has slammed the move as an "illegal grab," and legal challenges to the Supreme Court are widely expected if the appointments proceed.
Background on the Crisis
Five members of the council, including four academic representatives, submitted their resignations to Yoav Kisch on July 20 in protest against the advancement of a law expanding gender segregation in academia. The resignations coincided with the dissolution of the Knesset and were intended to prevent Kisch from appointing replacements and to paralyze the council's policy-making abilities.
Today, Yoav Kisch informed the head of higher education institutions of his intention to appoint three new members despite the upcoming elections in two weeks. The three candidates are Professor of Nutritional Sciences Berta Schwartz from the Peres Academic Center, Professor of Software Engineering Miri Weiss Cohen from the Braude Academic College of Engineering, and Professor of Sociology Rachel Sharabi from the Ashkelon Academic College.
Justification and Opposition
Kisch explained that the move is necessary because council member and former MK Roi Folkman is running for the Knesset in the 17th spot on Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar!" party list. This run led to the suspension of Folkman's tenure on the council and will terminate it entirely upon his expected election in two weeks.
"There is a shortage of active council members in a manner that hinders the continuous and proper operation of the council," Yoav Kisch wrote, noting that the current council's term ends in April 2027 anyway.
In response, the Association of University Heads stated: "We view the Minister of Education's decision to advance the appointment of new members at this timing with utmost gravity. Making appointments on the eve of elections constitutes a grab, is illegal, and violates all rules of proper administration."
