Israeli Education Ministry Probes Alleged Misuse of Public Funds by Teachers' Union

Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kish announced an investigation into allegations that public funds were improperly transferred to the Teachers' Union based on reports of teachers falsely listed as union members. The inquiry follows suspicions that payments were made using inaccurate membership data, prompting Kish to order a review of the fund transfer mechanism. He instructed that future payments be processed through teachers' pay slips to ensure transparency and accuracy.

Kish communicated these developments in a letter to union members, responding to a prior letter from Teachers' Union Chairman Ran Erez. The minister emphasized that the current system, which relies on membership lists provided by the union, will be fundamentally changed. The State Comptroller's office is also examining the issue, including the possibility of reclaiming funds if wrongful transfers are confirmed.

Kish criticized campaigns run against him by the union, which he claims cost millions of shekels, stressing that no personal attacks will deter him from protecting public money. He also refuted Erez's claims regarding the education system's handling of recent conflicts with Iran, clarifying that decisions about salary deductions related to remote learning were made by the Finance Ministry, not the Education Ministry. Kish accused Erez of hypocrisy for criticizing public fund usage while spending millions on personal campaigns against him.