Letter from the President – 27.03.2023

Dear Technion Family,

The coming hours, days, and weeks are crucial for the future of the State of Israel – the most significant cusp since the Yom Kippur War, 50 years ago. If the current legislative process isn’t stopped, the judicial system will be subordinate to the executive and the legislative branches, and the character of the State of Israel will be changed for many years to come. The separation and balance between the judiciary, the legislative, and the executive branches are the essence of democracy.

Conducting a dialogue and reaching broad agreements is the only way to make changes in the essence and nature of the constitutional basis on which a state relies. Calls for dialogue from the President of Israel, academia, industry leaders, economists, lawyers, present and past heads of the National Security Council, national security services, Benyamin Netanyahu’s former advisors, reservists, and the majority of the Israeli public, have fallen on deaf ears.  This is tearing the delicate fabric of our society apart and damaging our connection with the diaspora.

Over the past two months, Israeli universities have worked with great restraint. However, we saw a disappointing turn of events yesterday evening when the Prime Minister fired the Minister of Defense for his concern and integrity regarding the State of Israel, when he suggested to halt the legislation process. It became clear that the Prime Minister is not interested in dialogue but in a legislative takeover, aiming to subordinate the judiciary branch to the executive branch and alter the character of the State of Israel.

The character of the state is at the forefront of our concerns, as is the continued existence of a liberal and democratic society that is essential for the prosperity of academia and its integration into the global academic community. Government conduct in recent weeks raises deep concerns about its intentions and the nature of the regime to which it is headed.

Following the declaration of the Senate and the Technion Council last month, we must ask ourselves whether the definition in our constitution: “the institution will act to further the aforementioned goals (education, research, supporting Israel’s economy) without discrimination of any kind based on race, religion, nationality or gender” will remain relevant? Will we retain our success, which is rooted in the universal values of openness, tolerance, academic freedom, equality, and absence of discrimination, on which our membership in the global academic community is based?

This concern is real. In a declaration of the presidents and rectors of the Israeli universities two months ago, we expressed concern about the expected harm to the strength of the universities. Sadly, these predictions are coming true. Postdoctoral fellows hesitate about coming back to Israel, Israeli researchers are considering immigration, an international conference was cancelled last week due to international scientists’ refusal to visit Israel. Yesterday, I was informed that a key speaker at a conference planned for June cancelled his participation due to the situation, international scientists taking part in evaluation committees have cancelled their participation, and a philanthropic foundation has let me know that should the legislation on the appointment of judges pass, they will limit their support of the Technion. I must also mention the reduction in investments in Israeli start-ups, and the reluctance of international companies, whose share in Israeli R&D is dominant, to invest in Israeli R&D.

Last Thursday I returned from an extensive fundraising tour in Boston, New York and Florida. I met with hundreds of true friends of the Technion and of the State of Israel, from the USA, Canada, and Brazil, Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals. There wasn’t one who did not express his/her deep concern about the current affairs in our country and about the growing rift between the Jewish North American community and Israel on the subject of democratic values. As one of our most loyal donors summed it up, “I’m afraid that the State of Israel and I may no longer share the same values.”

As a result, the Israeli research university presidents decided last night, in a difficult and extraordinary step, to halt studies in the universities and to urge the Prime Minister again: stop the legislative process before we fall into the abyss of a constitutional crisis. Launch, with genuine intent, an in-depth discourse, and allow its results to decide the character of the State of Israel.

To the Technion Family, I call on all of you to unite around the statement of the Senate and the Technion Council, to focus on the values that unite us as a community. Discourse, tolerance, inclusivity and adherence to the truth have been an integral part of the Technion for 100 years. They were our guiding star when the skies were clear and they were our beacon in raging storms. I call on all of you to speak your opinion in a voice that is loud and clear, without fear or trepidation, remembering that the Technion is home to a variety of opinions, and that we share one country, and one Technion.

Finally, in these tumultuous times, I would like to wish you all a Happy Passover, Happy Easter, and Ramadan Kareem.

Uri Sivan

President of the Technion