'No Arab teachers in our schools', say Israeli parents
'No Arab teachers in our schools', say Israeli parents
A new poll has found that 41 percent of Israelis reject the presence of Arab teachers in their children's schools, highlighting widespread anti-Arab sentiment in Israeli society.
2 min read
24 May, 2016
Many Israelis reject the presence of Arab teachers in schools [Getty]
Nearly half of Israelis do not want Arab teachers in their children's schools, according to a new poll conducted by Israel's Magar Mouhot institute.
The poll which was conducted on behalf of Gordon College of Education in Haifa, found that 41 percent of Israelis do not want Arab educators in schools attended by Jewish children.
Meanwhile, 82 percent of Israeli parents whose children attend religious schools opposed Arab teachers.
The head of Gordan College, Achezkial Taylor, described the survey results as a "strong blow" which have serious implications as they indicate the depth of polarisation in Israeli society which has penetrated to the education system.
He added that if a large proportion of Jewish parents reject Arab teachers, despite a teacher shortage, than this is a "black flag that should not be ignored."
Last year the Israel's Education Ministry had rejected a request to include a novel about a romance between a Jew and an Arab in the high school curriculum, because of concerns it could encourage assimilation.
The poll came weeks after Israel Defense Forces Major General Yair Golan came under fire after his remarks suggested a parallel between Nazi Germany and present day Israel in his Holocaust Remembrance speech.
The controversial comments fueled heated discussion among politicians in Israel and on social media.
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