Senior Shas MK: When non-Jewish teachers teach our children — we have a problem with that

MK Yinon Azulai (Shas) spoke out against the employment of Arab teachers in Jewish schools, calling for national separation in the education system. In an interview, he claimed that Arab teachers might introduce foreign content to Jewish children and emphasized that there are enough good Jewish teachers. He refused to compare his position to racism, presenting it as a desire to preserve Jewish values.

MK Yinon Azulai (Shas) spoke out this evening (Sunday, October 11, 2026) against the employment of Arab teachers in Jewish schools. In an interview on the program "Binyamini and Guetta" on Kan News on Reshet Bet, the Shas faction chairman argued that the systems should be separated on a national basis. Azulai said: "There are Jewish schools today where Arab teachers come in and teach. I don't know what content they are giving them." When asked what the problem is with Arab teachers teaching in Jewish schools, he replied: "When an Arab teacher teaches a Jewish child, I don't know what he is putting into him from his own place." He added that he believes the phenomenon could expand, and that a Christian teacher might teach Christianity and an Arab teacher might teach Islam. Azulai presented his vision: "In Jewish schools we have enough very good Jewish educators... and in Arab schools Arabs will teach, in Jewish schools Jews will teach." In response to claims of a teacher shortage, he replied: "There are enough teachers. Where is our problem? That we don't reward those good teachers enough and then they flee to other places." When asked how he would react if a European parliamentarian called for banning Jewish teachers, he refused to compare: "That doesn't happen and it doesn't exist. When it does, ask me." He emphasized that his position is not racist, but based on a desire that values be instilled by those who grew up with them. On other issues, Azulai clarified that Shas will not enter the government without regulating the conscription law, and claimed there is broad agreement regarding the enlistment of Haredi youth who are not studying. Finally, he referred to the legacy of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, noting his personal concern for the needy and the weak.