In late last month, dozens of students gathered outside the office of Eldad Porat, the principal of Hof HaCarmel School in Ma'agan Michael, protesting against him. They held signs and waved Likud flags, chanting slogans such as "Traitor, resign!", "The village should burn!", and "Death to Arabs", alongside support for Prime Minister Netanyahu. This unrest was sparked when a leak to Channel 14 revealed that Porat suggested organizing discussions on settler violence in the school's weekly current affairs sessions, which many perceived as controversial and inflammatory.

In response to the uproar, some parents sent a letter to the Minister of Education, Yoav Kish, demanding Porat's dismissal. The students' protests reflect a growing sentiment and mobilization in the community against what they view as a failure of school leadership to address sensitive topics surrounding Israeli-Palestinian tensions. The aggressive nature of the slogans used by the protesting students raises concerns about the prevailing attitudes within the educational environment and their implications for broader societal dialogue.

This incident is not just a local controversy; it highlights the increasing polarization in Israeli society regarding issues of nationality, identity, and the role of educational institutions in discussing contentious topics. The reactions from both students and parents showcase the complexities faced by educators in navigating discussions that touch upon deeply ingrained societal divides, and the pressure on educational leaders like Porat to either align with public sentiments or face backlash from their communities.