Severe Allegations: Secret Surveillance of Teachers for Their Political Views

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has filed a petition with the High Court of Justice against the Ministry of Education, alleging the establishment of a covert mechanism to monitor teachers based on their political opinions, involving the collection of personal information and contact with security agencies, without legal authorization.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has filed a petition with the High Court of Justice against the Ministry of Education, alleging that it established a covert mechanism to monitor teachers based on their political opinions. According to the petition, ministry officials collect personal and sensitive information, scan social networks, contact the police and Shin Bet, and compile intelligence files on teaching staff – without legal authorization and in violation of fundamental rights. The petitioners seek a conditional order prohibiting the Supervision and Enforcement Division from conducting checks and compiling files, and to halt the activities of the 'Advisory Committee to the Director General on Handling Incitement Against the State in the Education System.' The petition claims the committee operated in the shadows for years, and its members, lacking pedagogical or legal training, examined teachers' statements and made decisions regarding them. A freedom of information response indicates that between 2023-2025, the committee reviewed hundreds of complaints, and information was collected on about 160 education workers, with most activity targeting Arab teachers. The lawyers representing the petitioners stated: 'It's insane to think that for ten years, a shadow committee in the ministry has been secretly monitoring teachers. This is wrong, illegal, and harms tens of thousands of teachers and millions of students. This is Stasi.'