22-07-2025
Students at Netanyahu's former high school campaign for his removal from hall of fame
More than 200 students from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's former high school in Pennsylvania have petitioned to oust him from their hall of fame.
The students submitted a petition to the Cheltenham High Alumni Association last month to have a photo of the alumnus removed from the school's hall of fame, the New York Times reported on Friday.
The campaigning students cited Netanyahu's arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which accuses him of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, as well his indictment on corruption charges in Israel.
The New York Times reported that students sent an email to the alumni association that read: "When students see these alumni on the wall of fame as we walk past every day, we understand that these are people we should look up to, and we strive to be like them one day.
"As such, we feel it is not right for him [Netanyahu] to continue to be recognised in our school."
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Netanyahu attended the high school for four years and graduated in 1967 while his family lived in Cheltenham Township. He was elected to the hall of fame in 1999, when he was serving his first term as prime minister.
A decision is expected to be made in a closed-door meeting between officers from the alumni association and school district officials on 25 July.
Middle East Eye reached out to the school for comment but did not receive a response by time of publication.
