A New School Year Begins Across Israel Under the Shadow of War

by | Sep 2, 2026 | News

gray warship on body of water

Children across Israel returned to their classrooms on Monday for the first day of the new school year, a familiar rite of early September that unfolded this year under the shadow of a prolonged war and a tense election season.

From Tel Aviv to Ness Ziona to Ramla, students filed into schools carrying backpacks and nervous excitement, greeted by teachers and, in some places, by public officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited children on the first day of the new school year in Ramla, part of a longstanding tradition in which Israeli leaders mark the opening of the academic year with visits to schools.

The return to school is an anchor of normal life, a rhythm that continues even in extraordinary times. But this year’s opening comes against a backdrop unlike any in recent memory. Israel remains engaged in a multifront conflict, with operations continuing in Gaza, strikes exchanged with Hezbollah in Lebanon, a military presence in southern Syria, and the country on alert regarding Iran. The state of emergency declared early in the year remains in place, and the war has touched countless families across the country.

For students, teachers, and parents, beginning a new school year amid such circumstances carries its own weight. Many families have loved ones serving in the military, some communities near the borders have endured displacement and disruption, and the emotional toll of nearly three years of war since October 7, 2023 hangs over daily life. Schools have had to balance the demands of ordinary education with the need to support children navigating anxiety, loss, and uncertainty.

The academic calendar also intersects with the political one. With national elections set for October 27, the campaign is intensifying, and questions about the war, the economy, and the country’s direction dominate public discourse. The children returning to school this week are growing up in a period that will shape their generation, and the decisions made in the coming months will affect the world they inherit.

Yet for all the tension surrounding it, the first day of school remains a moment of hope and continuity. The sight of children heading to class, of teachers preparing lessons, and of a country investing in the education of its young, offers a reminder that life persists. As Israel navigates a difficult and uncertain period, the new school year stands as a quiet affirmation of the future.

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