Two teachers and two administrators from a preschool in Rehovot were arrested on Monday night on suspicion of child abuse. 

On Tuesday, two of the suspects were released on house arrest after police requested to extend their arrests. Police intend to continue the investigation, which has been ongoing for two weeks since parents raised concerns for their children's well-being.

Police investigators have gathered testimonies from the parents and have acquired surveillance equipment from the preschool in accordance with a court order. The surveillance footage will be reviewed in the coming days.

"The investigation is a top priority, in accordance with the uncompromising district enforcement policy, given the findings during the investigation and due to the victims' helplessness," Israel Police said in a statement. "The police intends to continue examining the documentation for a long time while continuing to investigate the suspects in order to uncover the truth and to exercise the full severity of the law."

This is one in an unfortunate string of recent accusations and arrests of teachers working with young children in Israel. 

Preschool classroom (credit: FLICKR)
Preschool classroom (credit: FLICKR)
At the end of 2021, a teaching assistant was sentenced to two years in prison for physically abusing toddlers.  In March 2022, nine teachers were arrested for abuse within a single week.