Religious Education Leaders Join Initiative to Boost Right-Wing Vote

Senior figures in Israel's state-religious education system, funded by public money, have joined a campaign to support right-wing parties. This move potentially violates the State Education Law, which prohibits ties between educational streams and political bodies. Elchanan Glatt, CEO of the Bnei Akiva Yeshivot and Ulpanot Center, and Yanki Friedman, CEO of the Noam-Tzvia Education Network, have joined the V26 political initiative, founded by Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council. The initiative aims to increase voter turnout for right-wing parties, including Likud, Otzma Yehudit, and Religious Zionism, by mobilizing activists on election day.

The educational networks led by Glatt and Friedman serve approximately 30,000 students. Concerns have been raised that this initiative may exploit state-funded students for political purposes, as the law also forbids educators from engaging in political propaganda among students. This is considered a highly unusual step within the education system, especially given the Minister of Education's past opposition to teachers expressing political opinions.

Glatt admitted to similar actions in previous elections. The involvement of these network leaders positions their institutions as aligned with the coalition parties. Both networks receive significant public funding: Bnei Akiva's 2025 budget was 675 million shekels, with 70% from state and local authorities, and Noam-Tzvia's budget was 350 million shekels, with 80% from public funds.

Leaders in the state-religious education sector fear that an opposition-led government might reduce their preferential funding compared to the general state education system. Last year, Glatt and Friedman were part of a campaign warning the religious public against perceived cuts to religious education funding, which they claimed would benefit the general state education system. The groups behind these concerns were responding to petitions filed by Menor Center and the Berl Katznelson Foundation, seeking to equalize funding conditions between the two educational streams, though they stated their aim was to increase funding for general education, not cut religious education.

The V26 initiative, previously known as V22 in the last election, reportedly mobilized thousands of volunteers to encourage right-wing voters. Glatt stated it was a "great privilege" to join the initiative, emphasizing his voluntary work outside of work hours and his commitment to the Jewish and Zionist character of Israel. Friedman stated his participation was part of his commitment to the "religious Zionist" cause. A post from October 2022 by Yehuda Wald, CEO of the Religious Zionism party, also indicated efforts to involve the religious education system in election campaigns to form a right-wing government.