Yoav Kisch

Kisch shares late son’s struggle in emotional Israel Prize speech

Education Minister Yoav Kisch delivers emotional speech at Israel Prize ceremony, sharing late son's story and thanking founder of youth movement that supported him.

All schools to reopen, starting Sunday

Following Home Front Command's changes to directives, Education Minister Yoav Kisch declares all educational institutions fully open and functioning as usual, beginning Sunday.

Kisch orders Israel Prize preparations amid possible Trump visit

Education Minister Yoav Kisch orders full preparations for the Israel Prize ceremony, including contingencies over security concerns and the potential attendance of US President Donald Trump.

Education Ministry to push expanding 'summer school' program

Education Minister Yoav Kisch announces new summer program for middle schools, expansion of existing 'summer school' program for elementary school students.

Education Min.: Schools won't reopen this week

As Passover break nears its end, Education Ministry says initial return to school will be in line with pre-Passover model; next week's schedule to be determined later this week.

Education Minister:

Remote learning to resume, including for special ed

Following mass-casualty missile strikes in Dimona and Arad, Education Minister Yoav Kisch announces cancellation of in-person school, including for special ed and low-risk areas.

Passover day camps will not open in Gush Dan and Sharon

Education Minister Yoav Kisch visited the kindergarten struck by rocket fire from Iran and declared that he intends to keep the day camps closed on the recommendation of local authorities.

Education Min.: 'Holiday school' to operate during Passover break

School-based Passover break programs to operate in areas where Home Front Command permits such activities, Education Ministry announces.

Officials assess:

Trump to visit Israel on Independence Day, despite war

Israeli officials assess that US President Donald Trump will be in Israel on Israeli Independence Day to receive the Israel Prize.

Education Minister:

Remote learning to continue until at least Monday

Education Minister Yoav Kisch says in-person school in parts of southern Israel will not restart before Monday.

Education Ministry: No school classes until at least Sunday

The defensive guidelines of the IDF Home Front Command remain unchanged until Saturday night, and the education minister announced that schools will not reopen.

Education Minister announces: School to resume in 'yellow' areas

Schools in Israel to reopen in lower-risk areas on Wednesday, as per Home Front Command's assessment.

Israel offers Trump the chance to light an Independence Day torch

Israel has officially reached out to U.S. President Donald Trump, inviting him to participate in the Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony and to receive the Israel Prize.

Kisch warns Iran against involving Israel

'Iran has an interest in keeping Israel out of the conflict,' Education Minister Yoav Kisch tells radio station.

During meeting with Netanyahu

Trump informed he will receive the 'Israel Peace Prize'

During a phone call held during the Trump-Netanyahu meeting, Education Minister Yoav Kisch informed Trump he would receive the Israel Peace Prize.

February 2026:

Use of cellphones to be prohibited in primary schools

Education Minister Yoav Kish announces a new policy that will prohibit the use of cell phones in elementary schools.

Education Minister bans lecture by 'Brothers in Arms' activist

Lecture to be given to high schoolers by Lt. Col. (res.) Ron Scherf is canceled following new Education Ministry directive, due to 'Brothers in Arms' efforts to encourage draft refusal.

Education Minister In Hungary:

'Education is the first wall against antisemitism'

At the International Pro-Israel Summit in Budapest, Israel’s Minister of Education delivered a passionate keynote address emphasizing Israel’s resilience following the Gaza war and the global fight against antisemitism.

Education Minister Yoav Kisch:

'We'll continue despite Haaretz's objections'

An editorial in Haaretz sharply criticized the Ministry of Education's decision to fully fund study tours in Judea and Samaria.

Ministers criticize AG

'Next political assassination only a matter of time'

During the government’s ceremonial meeting marking 50 years of the YAMAM unit, ministers—including the Prime Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Yoav Kisch—attacked the Attorney General.

Netanyahu opens school year:

'Education is the path to national resilience'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened the 2025-2026 school year at the Begin School in Nof Hagalil and visited a memorial for fallen soldier Staff Sgt. Ilya Sankin.

Education Minister warns against students' strike

Students who skip classes in protest will be marked absent, Education Minister Yoav Kisch warns.

Education Min.

'Politics won't be allowed to enter schools'

Education Minister Yoav Kisch wrote that teachers and educators who participated in a video demanding an end to the war would be summoned to answer for their actions.

Min. Kisch:

'Hamas, the modern Nazis, will not remain in Gaza'

Education Minister to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News: We face a long period of rehabilitation in the north. In the south, we are striking Hamas hard. Stagnation in the fighting? We are at a turning point.

Dozens of schools closed for violating Home Front Command rules

Education Ministry issues closure orders, stops funding, for dozens of educational institutions which failed to comply with Home Front Command guidelines. Education Minister Yoav Kisch: 'Children's safety is top priority.'

Ed. Minister launches plan to expand Haredi Hesder track

Education Minister Yoav Kisch unveils national plan to integrate 3,000 Haredi yeshiva students into military service by 2030, including combat roles, aiming at fostering at foster voluntary enlistment through partnership and belief in the State.

Education Minister:

New policy to protect right to lay tefillin in schools

Education Minister Yoav Kisch reveals plans to formalize students’ right to lay tefillin in schools as part of new 'Shorashim' initiative.

Education Minister:

'Haredi draft is a national opportunity'

Minister Yoav Kisch warns against going to elections over the draft law, saying it will distract from more important national missions.

Minister Kisch says Tel Aviv U undermining Israeli values

Education Minister Yoav Kisch denounces Tel Aviv University over Nakba Day commemorations, warning of budget cuts and accusing the institution of suppressing academic freedom.

Education Minister demands funding cut for Hebrew U & Tel Aviv U

Education Minister Yoav Kisch calls on Finance Ministry to act after universities hosted Nakba events using public resources.

Cabinet ministers issue joint condemnation of Supreme Court

Multiple ministers denounced the Supreme Court today for its handling of the hearing regarding the dismissal of Ronen Bar.

Israel Prize:

Prof. Illouz will not receive Israel Prize for defaming Israel

Former Bezalel Academy President, Prof. Eva Illouz, will not receive 2025 Israel Prize for Sociology following committee deadlock on ICJ decision.

After a day of delays:

Student delegation that was stuck in Turkey lands in Poland

A delegation of Israeli students that was stuck in Turkey since 8:00 on Monday morning has arrived at its destination after a nerve-wracking ordeal in the unfriendly country.

Minister Kisch refuses to award professor who appealed to ICC

Minister of Education Yoav Kisch is refusing to present the Israel Prize for Sociology to Prof. Eva Illouz, who signed an appeal against Israel unless she apologizes.

Education Minister: Principal who announced strike is a criminal

Education Minister Yoav Kisch slams high school principal Dr. Zeev Degani, warns against closing school to allow students to attend political demonstration. 'Schools are places for learning, not political wrestling matches.'

Education Min.: Give Hamas an ultimatum - hostages now, or war

Education Minister Yoav Kisch tells Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to give Hamas an ultimatum: All hostages back in Israel by Saturday - or hellfire on Gaza.

Minister Kisch to Arutz Sheva:

'We will remain in Syria as long as necessary'

Minister Yoav Kisch speaks to Arutz Sheva-Israel National News during a visit to Sheba Hospital: The price paid by the wounded and the bereaved families is not in vain.

Teachers' strike to continue?

'Likely for another two months, at least'

Ran Erez, chairman of Teachers Union for high schools, says it's 'not the end of the world' if strike continues, adds that he doesn't expect school to resume until after the fall holidays.

Strike in Israeli high schools to continue through Wednesday

'No reason to continue negotiations when Teachers Union is backtracking,' Education Minister Yoav Kisch says.

Teachers union to strike on September 1

Teachers Union chair Ran Erez: 'On September 1, we will not start the school year, I don't trust politicians.' Education Minister Yoav Kisch: 'Ran Erez simply wants to strike, for that I have no solution.'

In effort to prevent strike:

Education Minister presents offer to teachers union

Education Minister Yoav Kisch presents proposal offering teachers 2,000 NIS, returning budgets promised last year. 'Finance Ministry will need to compromise.'

Education Minister:

'Replacing Gallant would be a bad move now'

Minister Yoav Kisch says that despite strained relations with Netanyahu and the Likud, there is no benefit in replacing the Defense Minister during a war.

Education Min.: Schools in northern Israel won't open on Sept. 1

Education Minister Yoav Kisch announces that students in northern Israel will not begin the new school year in their hometowns, urges government to act against Lebanon 'to return security to the north, and for the future of all of Israel.'

Education Minister delays bill against terror-supporting students

The Minister of Education refused to bring the bill to the Ministerial Committee on Legislation. Kisch to Channel 7: "I support clear and harsh sanctions against terror-supporting students."

Ministers call for offensive action against Iran

Likud, Otzma Yehudit ministers praise quality of Israel's defensives during Iranian attack on Israel overnight, call for Israel to take offensive after barrage.

Israel Prize award ceremony to be held in Sderot this year

Education Minister Kisch announces 1st Israel Prize award ceremony since massacre to be held in southern Israel in solidarity with the heroic residents who are rebuilding after October 7.

Education Min. backtracks:

Israel Prize will be awarded this year

Education Minister Yoav Kisch announces he is backing down from decision to cancel Israel Prize ceremony during war after attorney general refuses to defend move to Supreme Court.

Israel Prize awarded to heroes of Be'eri

Menachem Kalmenson and Itiel Zohar have been declared the winners of the Israel Prize for their rescue mission to Be'eri on October 7th.

Minister Kisch:

'No intention to add Lapid to the government'

Education Minister on reports that there were plans to expand the government: Lapid is not a party to the discourse. Liberman can join, but not at anyone's expense.

Under heavy security:

Education Minister visits schools in refugee camp

Minister Yoav Kisch made a heavily guarded visit to schools in the Shuafat refugee camp to review the start of the school year.

State Dep't envoy speaks out against replacing Yad Vashem chief

US Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues praises Yad Vashem's director Dani Dayan, emphasizes importance of maintaining its independence.

Netanyahu to school children:

'This is our land, our language, our past, and also our future'

The Prime Minister opened the school year at an elementary school in Ma'ale Adumim.

Israel's school year begins

Approximately 2.5 million students went back to school today, and the Education Ministry has a new learning plan prepared for them.

Report:

Education Minister seeks to fire Yad Vashem chairman

Minister Yoav Kisch reportedly seeks to replace Dani Dayan with a Likud-affiliated chairman.

Protest sign compares Education Minister to Hitler

A sign at Tel Aviv University leaves the Education Minister shocked and prompts a reply: 'Have you all gone crazy?'

Education Ministry Director resigns over judicial reform

'The rift we have reached does not allow me to continue to exercise my responsibility to the public'.

Education Minister plans new law to honor murdered teens

The new Unity Day legislation would formalize in law a tradition started in memory of the teens kidnapped and murdered by Hamas.

Minister Kisch:

'Coalition has dropped most of the judicial reforms'

Education Minister says govt. only pushing for aspects of judicial reforms that have broad consensus.

Minister Kisch:

'I don't see a scenario in which the legislation is delayed'

Education Minister on IAF pilots' opposition to the judicial reform: A democratic country must not be decided by refusals of any kind.

In accordance with Norwegian Law:

Minister Yoav Kisch resigns from Knesset

Kisch will be replaced in the Knesset by Sasson Guetta, who lives in Moshav Goren in the Western Galilee.