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Until recently, the education system in Arab society suffered under the control of Shin Bet in every decision made by a supervisor, principal, or teacher; not even a school event would take place without the Shin Bet's approval.
In these dark days, the "education police" has been replaced—the right-wing has taken over the education system, even in Jewish schools, and is trying to decide what students will learn and what they will talk about, and what they won't. Now, even conversations and lectures outside the curriculum are forbidden.
Recently, social activist Rola Daoud was invited to a discussion with high school students near the university in Jerusalem (Lida). She spoke with them about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Right-wing activist Shay Galik and his organization "Batzelmo" filed a complaint with the Ministry of Education, which has now opened an investigation! How is it that a left-wing activist is speaking with the students?!
Anyone who thinks that this will stop here is gravely mistaken. After the outbreak of the war, Arab teachers were arrested, investigated, or fired from their jobs—both in schools and academic institutions—because of statements deemed inappropriate by the right or simply because they were not translated or understood correctly. We said this would not stop here and that it would eventually reach Jewish society. And here it is coming.
In the eyes of the right-wing, the enemies now are not only the Arabs but also the left-wing, or more precisely, those who speak of equality and partnership. The right-wing, hurtling in the direction of fascism, does not distinguish between Arab and Jewish when it comes to political stance; fascism is not solely a racial matter.
It is time to internalize that the order of the day is Arab-Jewish partnership—to stop this deterioration and to save freedom of speech, freedom of education, freedom of discourse, and the plurality of opinions. There is opposition to progressive, multi-perspective education. In Israel today, only one narrative is given legitimacy—a nationalist and racist narrative—and there is no legitimacy for education, humanism, or the denial of racism against minorities.
The persecution of teachers and educators is only the beginning of persecution in other sectors if we do not stop it through Arab-Jewish partnership and joint struggle.
