Tel Aviv teacher faces backlash for Gaza civilian compassion

Meir Baruchin, a 60-year-old philosophy and civics teacher at a high school in Petah Tikva, has been under intense scrutiny since October 2023 after he posted on Facebook expressing concern for Palestinian civilians killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. His posts came shortly after a Hamas attack that resulted in significant casualties in Israel. Baruchin's comments sparked outrage among some colleagues and community members, leading to his dismissal from the school the day after the posts were made. The situation escalated as Baruchin became the subject of a police investigation for 'public disturbance' and 'intent to betray the State of Israel'. Despite a prosecutor's decision not to indict him, the police have kept the case open, which Baruchin believes is a form of harassment. His apartment was searched by police, who confiscated his electronic devices in search of evidence of sedition. Throughout this ordeal, Baruchin has received numerous threats and insults online, including messages wishing harm upon him and his family. Despite the challenges, he has been reinstated at his school and is preparing for the new academic year, viewing the experience as a profound civic lesson. Baruchin's case has become emblematic of the broader issues surrounding freedom of speech in Israel, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict with Gaza. His story highlights the tensions between personal beliefs and societal expectations in a politically charged environment.