Tomorrow, a special committee will convene to discuss the permanent expulsion of the attacking students from the school walls | committee chair MK Kariv: “Every child in Israel must feel safe when going to school”
The Committee on Immigration, Absorption, and diaspora affairs, chaired by MK Gilad Kariv (Labor), convened today (Tuesday) to discuss the following topics:
A. Presentation of the activities of the governmental unit for coordinating the fight against racism in 2025.
B. Violent attacks on racist grounds against immigrant students in the education system.
C. An urgent proposal for the agenda on the topic: “Racism based on origin in the education system – following the incident at Haim Guri School in Netanya” – by MKs Davidson and Sova.
On February 2, 2026, a severe attack was documented in a junior high school in Netanya. Three immigrant students from the Commonwealth of Independent States were attacked by other girls on camera, suspected of having racist motives. Documentation of the attack was distributed on social media and caused an uproar. An examination by the Ministry of Education after the incident revealed that the incident is under police investigation and is being accompanied by the district inspectorate, the school administration, and professional treatment personnel. Upon receiving the report, immediate steps were taken against the students involved, including suspension from studies and continued disciplinary action. An educational response was also implemented in the school, the regular school routine was halted, and an educational dialogue was held with all students. On February 4, a special discussion was held in the Knesset plenum regarding the attack incident in Netanya, which was transferred to the Committee on Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs.
MK Gilad Kariv, Chairman of the Committee on Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs:
“We have dealt here in the committee with very difficult cases of racism within the education system. Every child in Israel must feel safe when going to school and to extracurricular activities. In extreme cases, our discussions on racism can extend to matters of saving lives. There is a lot of anger in Israeli society, and this is also reflected among the younger generation. We do not fully understand the significance of the immigration that has arrived here from CIS countries in large numbers since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. In about three years, about 150,000 immigrants have arrived here from CIS countries. Government ministries and the government system were not adequately prepared for the absorption of this massive immigration. I fear we have not succeeded in improving the absorption process in Israel for all immigrants. Resources must be allocated to local authorities and various organizations to succeed in absorbing immigrants properly. We are in a major event beyond our routine, and accordingly, appropriate resource allocation must be made. The proper response must be given to the young immigrants. Our goal is to get government ministries to allocate the necessary resources.”
Dima, father of one of the attacked girls: “We immigrated to the country alone and have no other relatives here in Israel. Following the publication of the video of the severe violence against my daughter, I received many inquiries from new immigrants telling me that their son or daughter was also attacked on racist grounds. Two weeks have passed since my daughter was attacked, and I still don’t know where the investigation stands. I don’t know what steps the school intends to take. I cannot bear the thought that the attacking girls will continue to study in the same school as my daughter. I would like the Ministry of Education to conduct surprise inspections of all educational institutions to see what is happening there and to prevent the next racist attack. All verbal, physical, and racist violence within the walls of Israeli schools must be prevented.”
Eti Dahan, Head of the Education Administration in Netanya Municipality: “I am pained and condemn all manifestations of racism. Netanya is an immigrant-absorbing city, and we will continue to work for the immigrants in the city. The attacking girls were suspended for 10 days. Tomorrow, a special committee will convene to discuss the permanent expulsion of the attacking students from the school walls. We held a central conference in the city attended by all school principals, kindergarten teachers, department heads, and other relevant parties, and we dealt with implementing active measures to reduce racism in the education system in Netanya. Approximately 1,600 students study at the school where the violence occurred. It is impossible to generalize all students and school staff as racist.”
MK Simone Davidson (Yesh Atid): “As a resident of Netanya, I was very ashamed of the racist attack incident that took place at Haim Guri School. We are in the midst of a crazy flood of racism against new immigrants that is overwhelming Israeli society, including within the Knesset walls. We will demand answers from government ministries.”
MK Tatiana Mazarsky (Yesh Atid): “I receive dozens of complaints about racism against immigrant students in the education system. A week ago, I submitted a bill that would make reporting of racism against young people mandatory. I expect cooperation between government ministries to protect immigrant children within and outside the school walls.”
Michaela Levin, Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality: “In recent months, we have witnessed an escalation in racism against students in the education system. The coalition is not addressing manifestations of racism against new immigrants. The Minister of Aliyah and Integration is deliberately not transferring budgets to immigrant organizations, but only to organizations that encourage exclusion. The delegitimization of new immigrants is supported by the actions of government ministers and coalition members. We in the Tel Aviv municipality will conduct a root-cause treatment of racism in our jurisdiction.”
MK Evgeny Sova (Yisrael Beiteinu): “A propaganda machine is operating in Israel against the immigrant population that has immigrated to the country from former Soviet Union countries. Government ministers are turning a blind eye to manifestations of racism against immigrant youth and against immigrant Knesset members. Children who consume the toxic media of coalition members are attacking immigrant children on racist grounds. The Knesset must enact several anti-racism laws and implement reforms that will benefit immigrants. I call on the Minister of Education to introduce an ‘Zero Racism’ program within school walls.”
Alex Rif, Million Lobby: “The situation is burning, and new immigrants are absorbing the greatest anger. Local government should shut down the system due to the manifestations of racism we have seen. In the 90s, we suffered in silence, but the situation has changed since then, and we will stand by the immigrant students. Government ministries must allocate appropriate funds to prevent the next racism incident.”
MK Vladimir Balyak (Yesh Atid): “The immigrant population does not deserve preferential rights. New immigrants want to be an integral part of the State of Israel. The economic atmosphere in the country is leading to an increase in racism against immigrants. The government’s actions imply that it does not want the immigrant population coming from CIS countries. We are here to stay, and we will fight racism.”
MK Pnina Tamano-Shata (Blue and White – National Unity): “I cannot understand why the Ministry of Education is not doing its job properly to prevent racism within school walls. It is illogical for immigrant children to be harmed because of their identity. Before investing in artificial intelligence in schools, racism must be prevented, and teachers must be given the right tools.”
Galit Fischer, Principal of Haim Guri High School in Netanya: “As soon as I learned of the shocking violence incident, I immediately called the police. The injured girls are receiving appropriate emotional and psychological support. I convened my management team, the counselors prepared a relevant lesson plan, and the day after the attack, all classes stopped their studies and discussed the attack. There will be no more racism in our school. I am involving all relevant parties involved in handling the case.”
Adv. Tsiki Sternberg Deal, Director of the Governmental Unit for the Coordination of the Fight Against Racism, Ministry of Justice: “We are witnessing an increase in the number of complaints about racism that we receive. There are complaints we receive from evacuees, and there are complaints that come from appointees in ministries and workplaces. We open the complaints received and encourage the police to include a charge of assault with a racist motive. The unit I head approached the police in the case of the Netanya attack, and we have not yet received a response.”
Tira Galinur, Ministry of Education: “The fight against racism is a national mission. The education system is a mirror of Israeli society in all its diversity. We see immigrant students as heroes who have chosen to integrate into Israeli society. The education system is an anchor for immigrant students and their families. We are aware of every immigrant family. The Ministry of Education condemns the phenomenon of racism in every way. Complaints about racism can be submitted openly and anonymously.”
Michal Oz, Ministry of Education: “We are experiencing a very large increase in incidents of violence, suicidal ideation, and racism. The Ministry of Education lives within broader Israeli society, and every incident that occurs in Israeli society affects the mood in the education system. We provide the appropriate response to every inquiry and every extreme case that occurs in schools across the country.”
Dr. Sheri Feuer, Ministry of Aliyah and Integration: “The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, headed by Minister Ofir Sofer, condemns any condemnation of racism in Israeli society. We in the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration conduct a series of lectures for parents who are new immigrants whose children study in schools, where we provide them with tools to identify signs of distress in their children. We also speak directly with immigrant youth through organized workshops. Next month, we will hold a conference for professionals to raise awareness and deal with manifestations of racism and fear of suicidal ideation.”
Committee Chairman MK Kariv summarized the discussion:
“There are schools in Israel that are more geared towards immigrant absorption. I request to know if these schools receive additional resources to deal with racism. I ask the Ministry of Education to present to the committee the pedagogical programs it has developed to prevent racism. The committee requests the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee to prevent violence, boycotts, and racism in the education system. We will hold frequent follow-up discussions on the issue of racism.”
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