Jerusalem, December 6, 2007 … The Anti-Defamation League is concerned over the number of cases where people have been segregated in the education system in Israel. We have seen recent reports in the media where preschoolers and young pupils have been separated from their peers because of their different backgrounds.

The Israel office of the ADL has issued the following statement:

We believe that this practice on these impressionable young children will mark their sense of self esteem. It will also harm the social fabric wherever it takes place. As a society that yearns for equality, we cannot allow segregation between peoples in education system or anywhere else. We believe that educating at a young age the values of tolerance and the acceptance of the other is significant for creating a healthy, united and respectful society.

We call upon the Ministry of Education and the municipal education departments to work to create an educational system which embraces all groups which make up the Israeli society and be sensitive to their needs.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.