PISA fallout and coalition maneuvering
Education Minister Kisch faces attacks from teachers and rivals as Netanyahu reshuffles alliances
PISA fallout and coalition maneuvering — High school teachers' union chairman Ran Erez attacked Education Minister Yoav Kisch on 103FM today, accusing him of managerial incompetence after the publication of PISA test results showing Israeli student scores dropped 38 points in reading, 25 points in mathematics, and 23 points in science within three years. [^1] "He doesn't know how to manage this system," Erez said. [^1] The Ministry of Education also published late-evening internal reports revealing that only 3% of 9th graders met all science requirements in the 'Tnufa' (Meitzav) tests. [^2] Yashar party candidate Netali Shem-Tov joined the attack, telling Kisch: "I heard you say you are very, very concerned, and I naively thought: oh, here is a minister who is finally taking responsibility... But no, Yoav did not like that a new party was formed to offer an alternative on the right." [^3] She concluded: "Before you educate the smart right-wing voters, take care of my children." [^3] The Organization for the Rescue of State Education responded sharply, claiming Kisch is trying to divert the discussion. [^2] Meanwhile, Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening after a report about a warning call from UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed before October 7. [^4] Netanyahu, for his part, decided not to offer Ofer Winter an excess-vote agreement and to turn to Religious Zionism instead. [^5] At the last moment, the Shlomei Emunim and Machzikei Hadas (Belz) factions within Agudat Yisrael will submit their first two candidates on the United Torah Judaism list through a separate registered party. [^6] Sara Netanyahu also insinuated that opposition leader Yair Golan knew about the October 7 attack in advance. [^7] Syrian minister urges equality as return movement tests transition — Syria's Social Affairs and Labour Minister Hind Kabawat, the only woman and only Christian in the Islamist transition government, called in Rome for a new constitution guaranteeing equality for all religious minorities, ahead of a meeting with Pope Leo XIV.[^1] Kabawat said the government must do more to show it is inclusive.[^2] The appeal c