Bar Ilan University
Bar Ilan UniversityCourtesy of the university

Where is Bar Ilan University? That depends on who you ask, or rather, when you ask – because on Tuesday, the impressively named Geographical Committee for Establishing the Boundaries of Bar Ilan University recommended that parts of the university’s campus be transferred to the jurisdiction of Givat Shmuel, with the bulk of the campus remaining in Ramat Gan.

Specifically, the committee recommended that the academic sections of the campus remain in Ramat Gan while the non-academic sections (student accommodations, Wohl Center, Amit Technological College, and the roads around the campus) be transferred to Givat Shmuel.

The recommendations will now be passed to the Interior Minister, Aryeh Deri, who will make the final decision on the matter, after hearing presentations from both municipalities.

Meanwhile, mayors of both jurisdictions have already stated their objections to the decision, with both claiming sole “ownership” of the university.

“This is a momentous occasion for us,” said Givat Shmuel mayor Yossi Brodny. “This is a first step toward our goal of having the entire university within Givat Shmuel’s city limits and correcting this injustice to the residents of Givat Shmuel, the students of the university, and the university itself. I call on Interior Minister Deri to complete the process of transferring Bar Ilan University as a whole to Givat Shmuel,” he concluded.

On the other hand, Ramat Gan mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen protested the committee’s recommendation, stating: “Bar Ilan University remains in Ramat Gan. The committee only decided to transfer student accommodations, the Amit college, and the campus roads to Givat Shmuel – the main thing is that the university itself remains in Ramat Gan.”