Netanyahu slams university for not playing national anthem

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has slammed the Hebrew University’s decision not to play the national anthem, Hatikvah during a graduation ceremony held yesterday to avoid offending Palestinian students.

Netanyahu described the decision as “a disgrace”.

It is the height of servility, the opposite of national pride. We are proud of our country, our flag, our anthem, and it only strengthens my resolve to pass the Jewish State bill that we are leading, in order to anchor in law the national symbols that are so dear to us.

The mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, described the decision as “foolish and offensive to the Jewish heritage” and called on the university to “reverse its foolish decision and restore dignity to itself”.

Israeli Army Radio reported that it had obtained a recording of an employee of the Humanities Faculty explaining that the national anthem will not be played out of “consideration for the other side” in reference to Palestinian students.