New Rules for Palestinian Study in Israel

The Jerusalem Post reported that the High Court of Israel has accepted rules limiting Palestinian study in Israel. The rules come from the army and are as follows:

• Only PhD and Masters students will be considered and only if there is no practical alternative to studying in Israel
• Preference will be given to applicants to programs focusing on regional cooperation or developing coexistence and regional peace. The Education Ministry must testify as to the nature of the program
• Palestinians will not be allowed to study professions that have the potential to be used against Israel.
• The applicant will have to provide the army with a detailed request from a recognized academic institution explaining the grounds on which the institution wants him to study there
• There will be no further examination if the applicant has a security or criminal record.
• The army will take into account the age of the applicant and his personal status.
• The army, at its own discretion, may refuse to consider an applicant even if the student meets the above criteria.

The High Court will allow for appeals based on the discretionary refusals; however, that is the only objection to the army rules. Numerous academics in Israel objected to the Army's foray into matters they felt were purely academic.