Israel’s education system is blocking progressive messages 

BEN LYNFIELD: The Education Minister has banned bereaved Israelis and Palestinians from speaking to schoolchildren. Other liberal programs could face the same fate. 

Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government is opening another front in its offensive to transform Israel into an authoritarian Jewish supremacy state.

After it won passage through the Knesset last month for a key element of its program for weakening judicial oversight, critics say the coalition is now working to redefine the values of Israel’s education system to further diminish democratic views and move high school students closer to a racist world view.

Democracy advocates anticipate attempts to remove additional liberal external programs from schools following Likud party Education Minister Yoav Kisch’s recent decision to ban the Parents Circle Families Forum, which brings bereaved Israelis and Palestinians to classes to speak of the pain at losing a loved one to the conflict and their hopes for reconciliation.

“They’re trying to delegitimise democratic values and human rights and make these into controversial issues so it will be harder to present these values in the school system,” said former education minister Yuli Tamir, a retired left-wing politician who heads Beit Berl College, which trains teachers.

Tamir said  democratic and pro-peace values have been on the defensive for years with the dominance of the Right in most governments. But the step against the Parents Circle is “terrifying”, she said, and a harbinger of worse things to come unless pro-democracy forces rally in opposition.

“They will probably expand the list when they see they can do it,” she said.

“The Parents Circle is one of the most honourable activities,” Tamir added. “You have people who have been harmed who nevertheless talk about reconciliation, people who overcome crisis and talk to the other side.”