President's Residence Launches Major Campaign Against School Bullying and Boycotts

The National Forum for Combating Boycotts and Bullying, under the auspices of the President's Residence, has launched a nationwide campaign titled 'This is a Red Line' to combat boycotts, violence, and bullying in Israeli schools and society. The initiative coincides with the start of the academic year and aims to address alarming statistics, including that one in three children and teenagers in Israel report experiencing social boycotts or rejection, and a third are exposed to violence or bullying. The campaign is described as the largest of its kind in Israel.

The Forum brings together government ministries, local authorities, civil society organizations, and the business sector for an unprecedented, large-scale effort. This collaboration between public systems, civil society, and the business sector seeks to establish a clear boundary against these harmful behaviors and foster a change in societal discourse, norms, and conduct.

President Isaac Herzog stated, "We are in a national emergency and I call on everyone in Israel to take part in the national effort to combat boycotts and bullying among children and youth." He emphasized the need for collective action, urging bystanders not to ignore incidents of violence or exclusion, but to intervene positively. "It is our responsibility, it is on us!"

The campaign will utilize public messaging, social media, and outreach in schools, public spaces, and commercial centers. A new website, 'It's On Us,' has been established to centralize resources, information, and support services for children, teenagers, parents, educators, and anyone witnessing harm. The initiative aims to cultivate a generation that understands that harming others is not entertainment, indifference is not the default, seeking help is not weakness, and supporting someone alone is leadership.