Netanyahu isn't quiet ahead of elections, but letting others do the work, Bar-Asher Siegal argues

Israeli universities are facing an unexpected academic boycott, with partners in "deep-red" US states and Europe distancing themselves, according to Professor Michal Bar-Asher Siegel. She described American institutions, previously considered close allies, as now backing away from collaborations.

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American institutions that had been friendly for years as now backing away

Siegel, a Talmud scholar and JPPI Senior Fellow, suggested that Israel is increasingly viewed as the country that entangled the US in a war many Americans cannot comprehend. This perception is impacting academic partnerships and raises concerns about Israel's international standing.

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Israel, she said, is increasingly read there as the country that pulled the US into a war Americans cannot explain to themselves.

The warning comes as Israel approaches elections on October 27, with significant unresolved issues including Gaza's disarmament, escalating settler violence in the West Bank, and a lack of progress on the Iran situation. Siegel asserted that the government's strategy of deferring critical decisions until after the vote is compounding these crises, as campaign incentives reward extreme rhetoric, and the political system appears unresponsive to such extremism.

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yes, to the host Jacob Laznik, without qualification, arguing that campaign incentives reward the most extreme statement available and that the system no longer reacts to extremism at all.

She also noted that European counterparts, including those in Germany, are now openly questioning Israel's actions by referencing Israeli ministers' own words. Israel's participation in EU research frameworks is reportedly under active discussion. Siegel disputed the notion that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has become quiet during the campaign, arguing instead that he is allowing others to voice controversial opinions while positioning himself to prevent his rivals from securing a majority. She observed that Israeli public opinion polls have remained stable, even during military operations like the campaign against Iran, a pattern that deviates from Western trends.

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Israel's place in EU research frameworks is under active discussion.