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Bar-Ilan, a model for conflict-resolution

February 3, 2017 11:08
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BySonia Zhuravlyova, Sonia Zhuravlyova

1 min read

Coexistence is a point of pride at Bar-Ilan University. And although there is still a notable gap between the number of Jews and Arabs who pursue higher education in Israel, Bar-Ilan has made sure its Arab students feel welcome and are treated with respect. This year, 1,250 Israeli Arabs enrolled, which represents a 20 per cent increase.

Speaking while on a brief visit to the UK, Bar-Ilan’s president and Israel’s former minister of science and technology, Professor Daniel Hershkowitz, described the attitude to the challenge of bringing different people together on one campus.

He said: “In Israel there are two big sectors where people are not fully integrated in society. One is the Charedi sector and the other is the Arab sector. The state of Israel has given a very high priority to offering higher education to both. Although it’s still on a small scale, nevertheless it’s growing quickly.”

Bar Ilan University has responded to its increasing Arab student body by creating a place to pray on campus, as well as offering counselling, translation services, scholarship assistance and extra courses in Hebrew and English. There is also a Charedi centre and the university has taken its programmes to Charedi colleges in Jerusalem.