440 academics oppose Jerusalem uni’s plan to award Israeli president honorary degree

Some 441 academic staff members at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem signed a petition opposing the university administration’s decision to award an honorary doctorate to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, stressing that Herzog “does not deserve honour but criticism” for his lenient positions during the war on Gaza, Arab48 reported.

“We, the undersigned, members of the senior academic staff at the Hebrew University, strongly oppose the university administration’s intention to award the President of the State, Isaac Herzog, an honorary doctorate,” the petition said.

Highlighting the “difficult period” Israel is going through, the petition added: “The government is thwarting the release of the kidnapped soldiers due to its insistence on continuing the war, continuing to push the coup against the judiciary, and refusing to form an official commission of inquiry into the failure of October 7 and the manner in which the war was managed.”

An honorary degree, it explained, “should express appreciation that the candidate has ‘done a lot’ for the public good.” Herzog should “be prepared to pay a personal price, including the threat of resignation, for the government’s failure to end the war in order to free the hostages and establish an official commission of inquiry. President Herzog’s position means that he does not deserve honour but criticism,” the signatories, who were joined by the families of Israeli captives held in Gaza, said.

Over the past year, members of the Israeli negotiating team for the ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip and the prisoner exchange deal with Hamas have sharply criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of deliberately making statements to thwart the negotiations. Herzog, meanwhile, has done little to hold Netanyahu to account.

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