Education Ministry Replaces Citizenship Curriculum Supervisor Amid Controversy Over Content

About five months ago, the Israeli Ministry of Education held a tender for the position of supervisor of the citizenship subject. Dr. Eyal Feldman, who had served as interim supervisor for a year and a half and was highly regarded by his colleagues, was recently replaced by a principal from the national-religious education sector. According to senior ministry officials, the replacement followed intense conflicts between Feldman and members of Education Minister Yoav Kisch's office, particularly Nissim Tobol, chief of staff to the ministry director-general and close to the minister. The dispute centered on demands to introduce a controversial textbook published by Har Bracha into the citizenship curriculum. This book, which the ministry has attempted to integrate into schools across all streams including state education, has been widely rejected by professional education staff as unbalanced and overly critical of Israel's democratic institutions and judiciary. Dr. Feldman authored a detailed professional report explaining why the book should not be approved, resisting significant pressure from the minister's office. Shortly after, he was replaced by a supervisor from the national-religious education system, a move seen as paving the way for the book's approval. The Ministry of Education denied any improper interference, stating there is no connection between the supervisor selection process and textbook approval, calling allegations of misconduct false and defamatory. Dr. Feldman has not yet responded to the developments.