Teacher Denies Inciting Students, Cites Discrimination After Class Discussion

Miriam Abu Bakr, a 26-year-old teacher at "Shirat HaYam" school in Or Akiva, has been accused of inciting students during a "homeland" class lesson. Abu Bakr, who began teaching at the school at the start of the current academic year, stated that the controversy erupted after she mentioned her Muslim faith in response to a student's question about celebrating Christmas. She explained that the class was having an open discussion about various places, holidays, and citizens in Israel when the question arose. "I didn't think the word Muslim would cause such a fuss and turn me into a terrorist," Abu Bakr said, denying allegations that she threatened students, spoke with nationalistic undertones, or asked students to stand by the board if they hated Arabs. She claims the accusations, which appeared in parent groups, are false and that she only invited students to share if they knew diverse citizens.

Abu Bakr described feeling threatened upon arriving at school, entering with a security guard and feeling like a prisoner. She reported that one parent called her a "terrorist" and another told her, "Don't forget you are in Or Akiva, a city that doesn't like Arabs and doesn't want coexistence." She asserted that her identity as an Arab and a Muslim led to these harsh accusations, contrasting it with her positive three-year teaching experience in Tel Aviv and her desire for students to feel comfortable sharing and building self-confidence.

Parents initiated a two-hour strike at the school on Thursday, despite efforts by the administration to prevent it. The parents' criticism centers on Abu Bakr's alleged actions, including claims that she caused humiliation, discussed Islam and Arab society, and asked students who hated Arabs to explain their views. They also alleged the discussion escalated to include terrorists, harm to Jews, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Education officials, however, stated the discussion began after an offensive remark by a student about Arabs. Abu Bakr continues to teach at the school in classes where no complaints were filed, and no official approval has been given to the parents' claims.