The Ministry of Education is considering a mandatory display of the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu's, photo in every classroom, according to a report by Israel Hayom on Tuesday.
Currently, the existing guidelines, outlined in the Director General's circulars, state that the Israeli flag is the only national symbol that must be displayed in the main building of all recognized educational institutions.
However, the Ministry is contemplating the establishment of a unified policy regarding the display of state symbols in schools, which could mandate the presence of portraits of government officials, such as the Prime Minister, the President, and the Opposition Leader, in classrooms.
The proposal for mandatory portraits has sparked debate among both educators and students, particularly in light of the current political climate, which is expected to intensify as elections approach.
Reports from Israel Hayom indicate that videos have surfaced showing educators removing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s photo from classrooms, with some students taking part in those acts.
Other protested images of Israeli leadership
In other instances, there have also been objections to displaying images of Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, and others still have called for the removal of photos of the IDF Chief of Staff, especially following the events of October 7, 2023.
In a related initiative, the Branco Weiss network of high schools has announced that the Declaration of Independence - signed at the founding of the state - will now be required to be displayed in every classroom across its schools, according to Israel Hayom.
Aviv Kinan, the CEO of Branco Weiss, informed staff: “This month, we sent your schools posters of the Declaration of Independence (one for each classroom) so that it can be displayed in every room, reminding students of our shared social foundation.”
He added, “Especially during times of division, tense dialogue, and waning trust, the Declaration of Independence serves as a reminder of our shared values as a state, society, and people. This founding document, upon which the state was built, should be displayed in every classroom, and all students should be familiar with its contents.”
In response to these developments, the office of Education Minister Yoav Kish stated, “This report is designed to cause division. The Ministry of Education is exploring the development of a unified policy regarding the display of state and government symbols in educational institutions. Any other interpretation is incorrect and misleading.”