Israeli university to give credits to students who work with far-right group

The controversial NGO is among 30 groups allocated for volunteering by the university, Haaretz reported.

The university said that Im Tirtzu meets the criteria required to be considered a volunteer organisation, including that its activities are not political.

The volunteering scheme comes under a broader Israeli initiative encouraging students to become more active in their communities.

Universities may give students credits for volunteering 30 hours a year for organisations which the law states must not be political or party affiliated.

Im Tirtzu applied to Ben Gurion University of the Negev last year to be included among volunteering organisations but were turned down due to an administrative technicality, Haaretz reported.

This year, the right-wing organisation's application was accepted. The university's legal advisor concluded its recognition would not break the law as the proposed activities were not of a political nature, sources told Haartez.

Im Tirtzu describes itself as an organisation that wants to strengthen "Zionist values" in Israel and combat a "campaign of de-legitimisation of the State of Israel".

Founded in 2006, part of its efforts are directed at confronting left-wing academia.