Israeli School Principals Protest Education Minister Yoav Kisch, Removed from Committee Meeting

Israeli school principals protested sharply against Education Minister Yoav Kisch during a Knesset Education Committee meeting ahead of the new school year. They held signs reading "Get Out of Flight Mode - Talk to the Teachers" and were subsequently removed from the discussion. The protest highlights ongoing tensions amid a teacher shortage crisis, with the Education Ministry's Director-General Meir Shimoni reporting a deficit of 800 teaching staff as of yesterday, 70% of which is concentrated in central Israel.

The controversy intensified after Kisch took a vacation to Cyprus last weekend, missing several critical preparatory conferences for the school year, including an important meeting with the ultra-Orthodox district and three other key events. Ministry sources called his two-week absence unprecedented and criticized his lack of presence during crucial planning sessions.

Earlier this week, approximately 2,000 school principals announced they would cease cooperation with the Education Ministry and boycott the district opening conferences. This move responds to budget cuts that eliminated sick leave provisions and harmed special education integration. The principals, represented by the "Leaders" organization, also plan digital sanctions, including halting data synchronization and communication with the ministry until further notice. Despite repeated appeals to the ministry, the principals received no satisfactory response, prompting them to escalate their protest.