Kadima-Tzoran Parents Threaten School Strike Over Solar Panel Safety

Hundreds of parents in the Israeli town of Kadima-Tzoran are threatening to strike on Tuesday, the first day of the school year, over concerns about the safety of photovoltaic solar systems installed on school rooftops. Parents are demanding a halt to the installations and the operation of the systems until adequate safety measures and radiation measurements are implemented to protect children's health.

The parents support the transition to renewable energy but insist on stricter safety, transparency, and oversight standards when these systems are placed in educational institutions. The dispute arose following the commencement of a project to install solar panels on school roofs, leading to parental fears about exposure to electromagnetic fields.

Parents have presented engineering and medical reports from international experts, as well as World Health Organization (WHO) findings, which they claim indicate that Israeli regulations do not adequately protect sensitive populations from radiation, prioritizing techno-economic progress over health risks. These reports have reportedly received only partial attention from the local council.

Key demands from the parents include an immediate cessation of work, implementation of safety recommendations from their engineer, appropriate radiation testing, a commitment not to install energy storage stations in schools, and full transparency regarding ongoing work. They emphasize that a strike is a last resort, stating, "We are not against green energy, we are for our children." They are calling for an immediate meeting with the council to find a solution that allows children to return to school with peace of mind.

The parents stress that the school year cannot begin with unresolved basic safety concerns for their children. They urge the council to pause, investigate, and engage the public before proceeding with the installations.