Ministers to vote today on academic boycott bill Shortening cooling-off period for generals on agenda •Extended maternity leave also up for debate •By GIL HOFF MAN The Ministerial Committee on Legislation will vote Sunday on a bill that would cut state funding for academic institutions that employ professors who support boycotts of Israel. The legislation, proposed by Yisra- el Beytenu MK Oded Forer, is intend- ed to harm academic boycotts of Israel abroad that are led by profes- sors employed by Israeli universities and colleges. The Im Tirtzu movement released a report last year about Israeli profes- sors who have aided efforts around ODED FORER YOEL HASSON the world to boycott, divest, or sanc- tion Israel and to prevent leading (Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post) (Wikimedia Commons) universities abroad from cooperating with Israeli academic institutions. former IDF generals and heads of the The current law permits up to 17 Forer said the bill will help prevent Shin Bet, Mossad and state police. weeks to be taken as paid leave, three boycotts and make the boycotters The legislation, proposed by Yesh more than the 14 allowed when one pay a price, without harming aca- Atid MK Elazar Stern, would elimi- baby is born. The bill would allow demic freedom. nate the cooling-off period for gen- the three extra weeks to be taken by “Israeli professors have unfortu- erals who were not IDF chief of staff. the father at the same time that the nately become the voices for BDS Stern said the current law, which wife is off from work. campaigns,” he said. “They take was passed by the Likud’s Yuval “Having twins requires double the advantage of their stature to call for Steinitz, was intended to prevent physical and mental resources, so boycotts of the State of Israel, while good people from competing for the my bill aims to make it easier on they are receiving salaries from the leadership of the country. Steinitz, parents of twins and allow them state. These professors have been who is close to Prime Minister Ben- to choose how to divide the extra spitting into the well they drink jamin Netanyahu, passed the bill weeks,” Hasson said. from for too long, and now is the when the Likud was in the opposi- There are efforts under way by time to stop it.” tion. Kulanu MK Rachel Azaria to extend Im Tirtzu chairman Matan Peleg “The current cooling-off period is parental leave to 19 weeks. Meretz called upon ministers to support the disproportionate and harms Israel MK Tamar Zandberg, who passed a measure, which he said cut across by preventing people who are a good law that enables part of the parental party lines because boycotts cause fit from running,” Stern said. leave to be taken by fathers, said great harm to Israeli society and aca- Another bill that will be brought she wants the two extra weeks to be demic institutions. to the committee Sunday would aid allowed to be taken by fathers and Also on Sunday, the Ministeri- parents of twins. The legislation, mothers simultaneously. al Committee on Legislation will proposed by Zionist Union MK Yoel “Mothers and fathers should be vote on whether the government Hasson, would allow mothers and able to enjoy part of their leave will support a bill that would cut fathers of twins to take up to three together in order to help their babies the three-year “cooling-off period” weeks of maternity and paternity and enjoy that special time in their before running for the Knesset for leave together. lives,” Zandberg said..