On June 7, 2022, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) filed a lawsuit in the Haifa District Court seeking a declaratory judgment against Haifa University. The lawsuit challenges the scholarship named "Ahavat Olam," which required "matriculation in a Jewish subject" as a condition. ACRI contends that this requirement is discriminatory based on nationality and religion, effectively excluding Arab students from eligibility.
Initially, the university advertised the scholarship as available only to those who had served in the army or completed full national service. After ACRI requested the removal of the discriminatory condition, the university revised the scholarship criteria. However, the revised conditions still perpetuated the exclusion of Arab students by stipulating that the scholarship was intended for those with matriculation in Jewish subjects such as the Bible—a requirement that is common in the Hebrew education system but not in the Arab education system. Although the university provided a narrow exception for those without Jewish subject matriculation, and included military or national service as a preference criterion, this largely perpetuated the exclusion of Arab students.
The lawsuit argues that as a recognized institution of higher education supported by public funds, the university is prohibited from implementing discriminatory scholarship policies. This prohibition is outlined in the Student Rights Law, 5767-2007, and aligns with the constitutional right to equality and the principle of equality in Israeli law. Financial support through scholarships is crucial for Arab students due to their socioeconomic challenges and the barriers they face in pursuing higher education.
In October 2022, the university submitted its defense statement, arguing that the scholarship conditions do not constitute discrimination. The university claimed that numerous scholarships with varied criteria are available, funded by donors who set specific conditions. The university also contended that the Student Rights Law does not apply to scholarship eligibility.
A preliminary hearing was held on January 17, 2023, where the court encouraged the university to negotiate with the petitioners and reconsider the scholarship terms. Although compromise efforts failed, on March 30, 2023, the university announced minor changes to the scholarship terms, including acknowledging the external donor "World Heritage Association," lowering the grade requirement for the alternative admission track, and updating the scholarship bylaws. However, these changes did not address the fundamental discriminatory nature of the "matriculation in a Jewish subject" requirement, so the lawsuit remains unresolved and is approaching the evidentiary stage.
On December 12, 2023, affidavits of principal testimony were filed on behalf of the petitioners.
On February 11, 2024, the University of Haifa submitted its affidavits of principal testimony.
A court hearing on July 3, 2024, resulted in a decision to submit summaries from both parties, after which a judgment will be rendered in the case.
Tel Aviv 10101-06-22 Association for Civil Rights in Israel v. University of Haifa
Attorney: Gadeer Nicola, Abir Joubran
The lawsuit was written with the assistance of intern Ofek Azoulay