Yair Golan's Democratic Party Plans to Reshape Religious Zionist Education

The Democratic Party, led by Yair Golan, is reportedly preparing a plan to influence and reshape the educational curriculum within the Religious Zionist sector. This initiative, detailed in a document from the "State Education Guard" organization, aims to introduce left-wing organizations into Religious Zionist schools. The plan, which is expected to be implemented after the upcoming elections, has been met with strong criticism from Religious Zionist leaders.

The "State Education Guard" is an organization founded by the Berl Katznelson Foundation, which is affiliated with the Democratic Party. According to the report, the organization's founders are active members of the Democratic Party. The document outlines 13 proposed actions for changing the education system, with a specific section dedicated to altering the nature of education in Religious Zionist schools. The goal is to foster a "state, moral, and open religiosity" by establishing a competitive fund for programs that connect religious commitment with democracy, humanism, and openness.

Proponents of the plan view the current Religious Zionist education system as extreme and advocate for its moderation. They propose that the Ministry of Education support two organizations, "HaSadeh" and "Dor," within the Religious Zionist educational framework. "HaSadeh" is described as a secular, left-wing religious organization with ties to former members of Breaking the Silence and Democratic Party activists. Its CEO has previously stated that Religious Zionist education promotes extremism and closed-mindedness. The "Dor" organization is reportedly associated with the Religious Kibbutz movement. The plan aims to introduce programs like those of "HaSadeh" into approximately 300 Religious Zionist schools.

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democratic Party, has previously stated his intention to "re-educate" students from the Religious Zionist community. The report suggests that party members are actively planning to integrate left-wing organizations into these schools to reshape the education provided. The "State Education Guard" responded to the report by accusing Channel 14 of spreading lies and harming national security, asserting that their organization advocates for a Zionist, democratic, and liberal education and opposes the influence of extremist elements.