A mother in Petah Tikva is opposing a decision by the city education administration and the Education Ministry to transfer her son, Maor, from the Alon school to another school after, she says, he was severely assaulted there. The mother, Tali, called the move a “cruel takeover” made without the family’s consent and against her son’s wishes.
Tali said the family learned of the transfer in an email sent late at night on the last day of school. “At two in the morning we received a letter saying that my son, who was attacked and is still dealing with the experience and recovering from a concussion, is moving to another school,” she said. She added that the announcement worsened his condition and led to a breakdown that required medical treatment again.
According to her, Maor is still suffering from the consequences of the violent incident and refuses to move because he wants to stay near his friends and home. “The transfer is being imposed on him while he is dealing with severe trauma. He does not want to go to a new place, meet new friends and start over. There is no logic in making the victim pay the price,” she said.
Tali also accused the school administration, the education department and the ministry of trying to avoid responsibility for the assault and its handling. She said officials falsely claimed she refused meetings, while she had repeatedly requested them. She further claimed the school principal and the parents’ committee chair hurt her reputation by saying some media reports were false. The municipality of Holon said the allegations do not reflect the facts, that the transfer was decided through a professional process that began before the assault, and that the claim that the students involved remained in place is incorrect.
