Jerusalem – Israeli University Cancels Prize To Veterans Group

Jerusalem – An Israeli university has canceled an award for a group of military veterans who criticize Israeli actions toward Palestinians.

Ben-Gurion University’s department of Middle Eastern studies had announced it would award a prize worth about $5,000 for Jewish-Arab understanding to the group Breaking the Silence.

University President Rivka Carmi overturned the decision, saying it would have likely been seen as a “semblance of political bias.”

Breaking the Silence accused the university of “buckling before the campaign of incitement being conducted against opponents of the occupation.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have attacked the group, saying it works to delegitimize Israel.

The New Israel Fund, a liberal American group, said Tuesday that it raised $20,000 to donate to the group in protest.