Israeli daycares plagued by licensing and inspection gaps, endangering toddlers, report finds

Israel's daycare system for children aged birth to three is plagued by critical licensing and inspection failures, placing toddlers at risk, according to a report by State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman. The audit examined oversight of facilities serving approximately 212,000 toddlers and highlighted systemic issues that have persisted despite years of criminal cases involving alleged and proven abuse in early-childhood settings.

The Education Ministry's shortcomings include an incomplete map of unlicensed daycare centers, with an initial list compiled in July 2025 containing only 683 facilities, which was neither comprehensive nor regularly updated. The ministry also failed to ensure that legally mandated camera systems were functioning, relying instead on operator declarations. This lack of verification means that evidence crucial for investigating abuse allegations may not be available.

Oversight of licensed facilities also proved inadequate. While the number of daycare inspectors increased, each inspector remained responsible for an average of 83 facilities nationwide. In key districts, a significant percentage of licensed centers received no inspection or only a single visit during the 2023-24 school year. Furthermore, the ministry only published an internal procedure for identifying and handling unlicensed centers in November 2025, after the audit had already commenced.

The report cited alarming statistics, including 2,473 police files opened between 2017 and 2024 on suspicion of assault or abuse in daycare and similar settings. An additional 278 files were opened in the first half of 2025. The findings underscore a concerning pattern of regulatory gaps and insufficient enforcement, leaving young children vulnerable to potential harm within their care environments.