From the Liveblog of
Sunday, May 11, 2025
Teachers protest potential dismissal of educator they say is being punished for demanding fair pay
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
Some 100 teachers, activists and supporters are gathered in Tel Aviv to protest the potential dismissal of a teacher who they say is being punished for demanding fair wages.
The protest, organized by the grassroots group We’re Stopping, is taking place outside Education Ministry offices on HaShlosha Street.
The teacher, Storm Tzemach, was summoned to a pre-dismissal hearing by the Education Ministry. Organizers say the disciplinary action stems not from misconduct, but because Storm has been active in the protest movement for teachers’ rights and fair pay. The case, they argue, reflects a broader attempt to silence public sector employees, particularly educators, who are striking against deteriorating conditions.
“A teacher in Israel has been summoned to a pre-dismissal hearing for one reason only – he demanded his rights,” says a message published by the group. “A man who chose to dedicate his life to educating our children is now facing the loss of his life’s work simply because he dared to speak his mind.”
“In Israel in 2025, asking for fair pay is considered a criminal offense,” the statement continues.
Last Monday, 117 schools closed in Tel Aviv and 155 closed in the central district as part of nationwide strikes against salary cuts, according to the Ynet news site. Then, on Wednesday, thousands of teachers called in sick as an act of protest.
The Times of Israel Community.