TEL AVIV, November 5, 2024 (WAFA) – The Israeli Knesset approved last night, in the second and third readings, a bill that would prosecute teachers and professional staff inside the 1948 territories.

The Arab Education Follow-up Committee said that the bill, which comes under the pretext of combating "terrorism," is an attempt to promote a culture of fear and suppress free speech and critical education.

It indicated that it will partner with human rights organizations to study the possibility of submitting a legal petition regarding it "because this law is nothing but an additional step in a systematic policy to subject Palestinian society inside the country to not present any critical thought that contradicts the prevailing thought and general approach."

"The Arab Education Follow-up Committee, in coordination with a broad coalition of organizations and activists, has followed up on the details of the law and recorded a position that categorically rejects this proposal, which falls within an additional step within the policy of gagging and general prosecution in all fields and tightening control over the education system in general," it continued.

The Committee explained that "the new proposed law authorizes the Director General of the Ministry of Education to dismiss an employee administratively from the education system if it is 'proven' that he identifies with or supports 'terrorism', and authorizes the Minister of Education to withhold the budget of an educational institution in which it is 'proven' that the school staff identifies with or supports terrorism."

K.T