Universities petition High Court against Ariel university

Israel's higher education institutes filed a petition with the High Court of Justice demanding that it rule against a decision to grant the Ariel College university status.

They argued that there is no need for a Hebrew-language university in the West Bank as only 15% of the students are local residents.

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The petitioners include the Hebrew University, Technion, Tel Aviv University, Weizmann Institute, and four other universities.

They claim that the Judea and Samaria Higher Education Council, that made the decision, does not have the proper tools to weigh in on all of the relevant considerations. They described the decision as "faulty and wholly unreasonable."

The petition was filed against the IDF commander in the West Bank, the government, defense minister, education minister, Higher Education Council and the Ariel University Center in Samaria.

It claims that not only is an additional university unnecessary at this time, but that the establishment of one "would deal a harsh blow to Israel's higher education."

The decision to recognize the Ariel College as a university was made last month in a 11:2 vote by the Judea and Samaria Higher Education Council. It has yet to be formally approved by the Central Command chief, the sovereign in the West Bank.

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