In a thought-provoking opinion piece published in The Jerusalem Post, Prof. David Harel, President of the Academy, warns of mounting threats to academic freedom in both the United States and Israel. He highlights how budget cuts, political interference, and ideological restrictions on research in the U.S. could weaken global scientific collaboration on critical issues such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and public health.

 

Turning to Israel, Prof. Harel draws attention to recent challenges facing the country’s scientific and cultural institutions, including funding reductions and attempts to erode academic autonomy. He stresses that academic freedom is not just vital for scientific progress but is also a cornerstone of democracy and national resilience.

 

To counter these risks, he calls for increased investment in research, the protection of institutional independence, and stronger international partnerships to safeguard Israel’s position as a global leader in science and innovation.