Bennett: Breaking the Silence banned from schools

Decision comes two days after Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon banned the group from taking part in IDF activities, describing the organization as having “malicious” motives.

By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZI
Naftali Bennett (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Naftali Bennett
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Education Minister Naftali Bennett announced Tuesday that he has banned the Breaking the Silence organization from the education system.
“Our children are sent to the education system in order to encourage mutual responsibility and not to harm IDF soldiers. The operations of Breaking the Silence caused the slander of Israel in the world, as they made it their target to harm their brothers, who protect us,” he said. “Lies and propaganda against the IDF - not in our schools.”
Bennett banned the group following consultations with senior officials in his ministry.
He instructed the director- general and professionals to “update the director- general’s protocol,” which was designated to regulate the procedures regarding issues within the education discourse so they are “clear and explicit” as to the activities of organizations that “incite against IDF soldiers” within the education system – like Breaking the Silence.
The decision came two days after Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon banned the group from taking part in IDF activities, describing the organization as having “malicious” motives.
Breaking the Silence describes itself on its website as an organization of veteran combatants who have served in the IDF since the start of the second intifada and “have taken it upon themselves to expose the Israeli public to the reality of everyday life in the occupied territories.”