Tel Aviv University
"You must surely receive many communications of this kind, but just to present myself, I am a student going for my second degree (M.A.) in cognitive psychology. I suppress by opinions because the atmosphere in our lab is very hostile. If you intend to publicize facts about those who are forced to suppress their views in Academia, include my words as well. I was standing at the far side of a corridor, together with a top lecturer of the faculty. He told me that he, too, despite his stature as professor, is simply afraid to express support of the judicial reform. Then, suddenly, a figure from the university's administrative corps approached us and said, 'Why are you whispering? Do you also support the Reform?'"
"I am an excellent student in a foremost university and I must not let it be known that I am a Rightist lest this damage my standing and even affect my marks. I am forced to sit quietly under the radar, among psychologists defining themselves as lovers of mankind who uphold the freedom of expression, but can, without blinking an eyelash, upturn the life of anyone who refuses to abide by their 'enlightened views.' It is a one-sided freedom of expression."
This is only one example of the flak which media columnist Yanun Segal has been receiving these past months on the background of the Leftist protest against the judicial reform. Additional testimonies told of universities which force their employees to go out and demonstrate against the government, of courses which begin meetings with a reading of a leftist manifesto from the rector, publicity of a list of public events descrying the Reform and encouraging going out to protest - including a reprieve for absence to those who go out to demonstrate.
They told of so-called lectures with such titles as "The economic damages from the Governance Revolution,' 'The Israeli Civilian Revolt,' "The Judicial Revolution and its Repercussions on Organized Labor,' "A Look at the Projected Future in the Wake of the Revolution.'
Suffice it those significant expressions used by the Academia, such as 'revolution', 'war', 'destruction of democracy'. 'the end of the rule of law', in order to understand that there are bodies who invested this fight-to-the-bitter-end with ideas not congruent to their views. Suffice it to understand that any opinion contrary to that 'enlightened' view is thought by them to be no less than joining the camp of 'the democracy destroyers' and 'tramplers of the law.'
Beyond the conclusion, there seems to be a kind of an ideological thinking in a major and growing part of Israeli Academia, a common denominator of all of these testimonies, which is fear. A real fear gripping a significant number of students that they would suffer the moment that their true Rightist leanings become known.
"Just don't publicize the name of the course lest I come under suspicion." "[Omit] all recognizing details." "Without any identifying facts, please." They emphasized this at the beginning of their letters to the Rightist reporter.
So what is taking place in the universities and academic research bodies? Can we determine that these establishments impose a progressive leftist world view which supersedes all other views?
The answer to these questions appears to be positive, at least according to the impression from the practical steps taken by the top university echelon. At the height of the protest against the judicial reform, they declared, at the conclusion of a special meeting, a cessation of studies in the research universities, on the grounds "of the legislative process seeking to undermine the democratic foundation of the State, endangering the continuation of its existence." They concluded their words with the announcement that "we are calling upon the Prime Minister and members of the Coalition to stop this legislation at once."
It should be noted that closing down studies were also instituted in institutions of professional studies with curricula including social- work studies which are geared to provide assistance to the weaker elements of the population.
