Minister withholds Israel Prize from academic over boycott petition

Prof. Oded Goldreich — who was nominated for this year’s Israel Prize in mathematics and computer science — signed a petition with other fellow academics, calling to halt funding to Ariel University in the West Bank
Tamar Trabelsi Haddad|
Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton announced Thursday that she has decided to affirm her predecessor's decision to withhold the prestigious Israel Prize from a prominent academic after he called on to halt funding for an Israeli university located in the West Bank.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • Prof. Oded Goldreich was nominated for this year’s Israel Prize, the country's highest honor, in mathematics and computer science by a panel of judges.
    2 View gallery
    Oded Goldreich
    Oded Goldreich
    Prof. Oded Goldreich
    Former education minister Yoav Gallant, however, blocked the academic from receiving the Prize after Goldreich called on the EU to halt funding for the Ariel University in the West Bank.
    The High Court of Justice voided this decision in August and gave Shasha-Biton the option of deciding whether to affirm Gallant's decision.
    "Anyone who calls for boycotting an academic institute in Israel is not suitable to receive the prize," Shasha-Biton said in a statement.
    "The prime purpose of the Israel Prize is to encourage Israeli art, excellence and research. Calling for a boycott of Israeli academic institutes undermines that goal, as it seeks to sever creativity, diversity, and freedom of opinion.
    2 View gallery
    יפעת שאשא ביטון בעצרת הנוער הממלכתית לציון 26 שנים לרצח יצחק רבין
    יפעת שאשא ביטון בעצרת הנוער הממלכתית לציון 26 שנים לרצח יצחק רבין
    Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton
    (Photo: Moti Kimchi)
    The prize’s mathematics and computer science committee said following Galant's decision that it was dismayed that the award had turned into “a political playing field, and that the regulations of the prize are not being upheld by the education minister.”
    It called on the court in August to ensure that Goldreich, a professor of computer science at Israel’s Weizmann Institute, receives the prize. Goldreich has said he does not support the boycott movement against Israel but objects to its policy of building settlements on contested lands.
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""