Israel’s Education Ministry operated a secretive surveillance body that monitored teachers over political speech, with Palestinian educators emerging as the primary targets, an investigation by Israeli newspaper Haaretz alleges . The report detailed the activities of an internal body known as the "Incitement Committee", which allegedly gathered information on teachers’ social media activity, monitored political statements, and recommended disciplinary action against educators accused of criticising the government or expressing pro-Palestinian views.
The committee has investigated around 160 educators since the beginning of the judicial overhaul crisis in 2023, with roughly half of the cases deemed by officials to involve alleged incitement to violence or racism, the investigation states.
Most of those targeted were Arab teachers, though some Jewish educators who opposed the government or Israel’s war on Gaza were also investigated.
The newspaper said the committee operated from the Education Ministry’s Enforcement Administration in Jerusalem and was headed by Lior Tuvia, a former Shin Bet operative.
The investigation centred partly on the case of Yaron Avni, a Jewish school counselor from Hod Hasharon who was investigated over anti-government Facebook posts written during protests against the government’s judicial overhaul plans.
Among the posts cited by ministry investigators were statements including: "We will take to the streets. We are the majority, and we will determine the way of life in this country, not the ultra-Orthodox and not the fascists."
Another post described the government as "liars and fraudsters, fascists and parasites".
Avni told Haaretz : "Before I'm a teacher, I'm a citizen. I feel the need to express my anger about what's happening here. I think it's legitimate. It's still legal to criticize the government."
The report said ministry officials ultimately summoned Avni for disciplinary clarification meetings and sought to place notes in his professional file.
The investigation also detailed several cases involving Palestinian citizens of Israel working in schools.
One Arab teacher was reportedly investigated over an Instagram post reading "Stop the war" in Hebrew and Arabic beside an image of a crying child after 7 October 2023.
Another was accused of supporting terrorism after liking a Facebook page with pro-Palestinian content years earlier.
In another case, Arab teacher Sabrin Masarwa was investigated after participating in a Nakba Day march in Shfaram.
Many Arab teachers contacted by Haaretz declined to speak publicly because they feared repercussions, the report states.
Attorney Abeer Baker, who represented some teachers, told the newspaper that the investigations involved "combing through old social media posts, distorting comments made in private conversations, and imposing loyalty tests".
"Teachers were already cautious about national issues," Baker said, "but after October 7, caution turned into complete silence." 'Dark regimes' Former Education Ministry officials quoted by Haaretz described the committee’s work as resembling practices used by "dark regimes".
One former senior ministry official said: "No one stops for a moment to think about the fact that ministry employees are being paid to collect material on educators. It's appalling."
The investigation also alleged that complaints were frequently triggered by reports from students, parents, and Israeli right-wing broadcaster Channel 14 .
According to Haaretz, the committee recommended disciplinary action against 52 teachers since 2023, while seven educators were ultimately dismissed.
Rights groups criticised the alleged secrecy surrounding the committee’s activities.
Attorneys from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel said the body monitored teachers "even when there is no connection between the publications and their educational work".
The Education Ministry denied the allegations, telling Haaretz that the committee examined only cases involving "concerns of incitement, identification with terrorism, or violations of the law".
"It does not deal with political criticism," the ministry said.