The bill, submitted by Knesset member Limor Son Har-Melech of the far-right "Otzma Yehudit" party, calls for closing any university student union that expresses support for "a terrorist act or activity or a terrorist organization."

Israeli Minister of Education Yoav Kish decided to push the bill through, claiming that academic institutions have become "a central platform for incitement" against Israel.

Palestinian students at Israeli universities actively participate in protests held on Israeli campuses to condemn Israel’s racist and brutal measures in the occupied territories.

In late May, an Israeli government panel shelved, for at least a month, the bill that would bar waving Palestinian flags on Israeli campuses, amid widespread condemnation of the legislation from university and rights groups and opposition by the attorney general, according to a report by the Times of Israel.

The bill would also institute campus bans on waving flags linked to terror organizations and on supporting terror groups, terrorism, or armed struggle by enemies of Israel.

Students caught violating the ban would be suspended for 30 days for the first violation. In case of future violations, they shall be barred from receiving a degree in Israel for five years, and any foreign degrees they obtain abroad within that time frame shall not be recognized in Israel.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that academic institutions must expel students who belong to terror organizations or are convicted of terror offences.

These students shall be barred from receiving a degree in Israel for 10 years, and any foreign degrees they obtain within that time frame shall not be recognized by Israel.  

The bill has sparked controversy over freedom of expression on Israeli campuses.

Last year, then-opposition party Likud advanced a different bill banning state-supported institutions, including public universities, from flying the Palestinian flag.

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara announced her opposition to portions of the bill. Meanwhile, rights groups took to campuses in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Beersheba in May to protest what they called an "anti-democratic and dangerous" law that will severely jeopardize freedom of expression and Palestinian students' ability to express their national identity freely. 

Several university administrators also denounced the bill. The Association of University Heads released a statement lambasting the legislation, calling it draconian and harmful to freedom of speech.