After receiving the Israel Prize in the field of mathematics and computer science research on Tuesday, Prof. Oded Goldreich announced today (Wednesday) that he will donate the grant he received to five organizations: Breaking the Silence, Standing Together, Kav LaOved, B’Tselem and Adalah.
The organizations stated: “We were moved by the announcement of the Israel Prize winner Prof. Oded Goldreich about his intention to donate the prize to us and we thank him for his generosity and partnership. It is also an opportunity to express our appreciation for the fact that throughout his glorious scientific career Prof. Goldreich has harnessed his name, status and achievements to the struggles for equality, justice, democracy and human rights. The attempt to deprive him of the award stemmed from his determination to promote these values and the determination of some politicians to despise them and deter those who promote them. We are proud to pledge that the former Minister of Education and the current Minister of Education will not be satisfied with the actions he has taken in favor of Israelis and Palestinians with the generous contribution of Prof. Goldreich. “
It will be recalled that the then Minister of Education, Yoav Galant, withdrew the award from Goldreich last year due to his support for the boycott of Ariel University, and also due to his appeal to the German parliament to cancel his determination that the boycott movement on Israel, BDS, is antisemitic. The High Court passed the decision to the then Minister of Education, Yifat Shasha Bitton, who, like Galant, decided not to award him the prize. Subsequently, the High Court ruled that Goldreich should be awarded the Israel Prize.
The Minister of Education, Yifat Shasha Bitton, responded to the High Court’s decision that the award should be presented to Prof. Goldreich: “A person who calls for a boycott of an Israeli academic institution does not deserve a state award from the State of Israel I am sorry for the High Court’s decision, but I will respect it. “
Congratulations to Prof. Oded Goldreich for receiving the Israel Prize in the field of Mathematics and Computer Science for 2021. The prize was awarded at a special event held at the Ministry of Education in Jerusalem earlier today. pic.twitter.com/Fpi0VCUMe1
— Weizmann Institute (@WeizmannScience) April 11, 2022
Want to write on the site or run a column?