Ze'ev Elkin, Binyamin Netanyahu
Ze'ev Elkin, Binyamin NetanyahuYonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Prime Minister Netanyahu attacked this afternoon the cancellation of the singing of national anthem “Hatikvah” at the Hebrew University’s graduation ceremony tonight for the faculty of humanities.

“The decision of the faculty of humanities at Hebrew University is disgraceful,” he said in an official announcement.

“It’s the height of servility, the opposite of national pride,” he said, adding, “We are proud of our country, our flag - our anthem.”

The Prime Minister connected between the university decision and the Nationality Law. “It just strengthens my opinion on the need to pass the Nationality Law that we’re spearheading, in order to anchor in law the national symbols so dear to us.”

In recordings published this morning on Army Radio, an employee of the department explained that the Israeli national anthem, “Hatikvah,” will not be played at the ceremony, and cited “consideration for others” - Arabs students and guests coming to the ceremony - as the reason.

This is the second time in a row that the national anthem will not be played at the ceremony, following years during which the ceremony had concluded with the singing of Hatikvah.