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Sukkot stated that Haaretz has “become a mouthpiece for anti-Zionist propaganda, and in some cases even includes content that encourages the delegitimization of IDF soldiers and the State of Israel.
RZP MK Zvi Sukkot will push for the Education Ministry to remove the inclusion of texts from Haaretz in high school matriculation exams, calling the paper “anti-Zionist” and “illegitimate,” he said on Sunday.
The far-right lawmaker, who was recently appointed Knesset Education Committee chairperson, said he would convene an “urgent discussion” with senior officials from the Education Ministry in which he would demand that the opinion pieces and articles originating from the newspaper be removed from the bagrut exams, which have appeared as part of the tests in recent years.
Sukkot stated that Haaretz has “become a mouthpiece for anti-Zionist propaganda and, in some cases, even includes content that encourages the delegitimization of IDF soldiers and the State of Israel.”
“This is an illegitimate body that has no place in the education system of the State of Israel. We will remove this content from the exams because the children of Israel should not be tested on texts that undermine our right to this land,” he added.
Sukkot’s statements came after youth members in the right-wing Religious Zionist Party had sent out an appeal to impose the ban. They said that the Education Ministry is “forcing” them to consume Haaretz content.
“It is unacceptable that a student in the State of Israel should be required to analyze and be tested on texts from a media outlet that gives a platform to the delegitimization of the IDF and supports the narratives of our enemies,” the youth members said.
Lazimi slams Sukkot over media crackdown
Sukkot took over the Education Committee last month after the role was left vacant when Shas Party MKs resigned from coalition roles. Democrats MK Naama Lazimi slammed Sukkot for pushing to remove Haaretz content from the exams, especially so soon after being appointed for the role.
She said it is “not surprising” that at the very start of his term, the right-wing MK would “focus on silencing media outlets on the basis of their political positions.”
“This is also a test for the entire Israeli media: how long it will tolerate this attack against it, and when it will finally draw a line against this madness?” she asked. Lazimi said she would initiate a discussion on the censorship in the education system in the Knesset’s Education Committee.
“Zvi Sukkot, you made it very clear very quickly that every criticism of your appointment was justified,” she said.
