Teacher in the south concealed a second marriage — here's how it turned out for him

A veteran teacher from the Negev, convicted of bigamy after marrying a Palestinian woman without dissolving his first marriage, has been fired by the Ministry of Education. The court ordered his dismissal within 60 days and issued a severe reprimand, despite requests from the local council head and his lawyer not to remove him from his position.

A veteran teacher from the Negev, convicted of bigamy, has been fired by the Ministry of Education. About nine years ago, the man entered into a second marriage in the Sharia court of Be'er Sheva, marrying a young Palestinian woman while still married to his first wife. He paid the bride's parents 5,000 Jordanian dinars as a mahr (bridal gift) and another 5,000 dinars as a deferred portion. Only a year and a half after the second marriage did he divorce his first wife. The court found him guilty and sentenced him to nine months in prison. He actually served four and a half months in custody, after which he returned to work as a teacher. Concurrently, disciplinary proceedings were initiated. The head of the local council asked not to fire the teacher, noting his role as a mediator in resolving conflicts. The lawyer asked to limit the punishment to a severe reprimand and a partial salary deduction, pointing out that the man has no other profession. The judges ordered his dismissal within 60 days and issued a severe reprimand.