Credit: Cheltenham School District.
Cheltenham High School and its Alumni Association are currently facing a sensitive and highly publicized issue following a student-led petition calling for the removal of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the school's Hall of Fame, according to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The topic was formally discussed in a meeting last Friday, but no final decision has been made, according to Cheltenham School District spokesperson Kevin Kaufman.
The petition, reportedly signed by over 200 Cheltenham High students, argues for Netanyahu’s removal based on recent international controversies. These include corruption charges he faces in Israel and an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court alleging war crimes related to the Gaza conflict. The petition has sparked both national attention and local debate, particularly given Cheltenham’s diverse, politically engaged community and its significant Jewish population.
Netanyahu, a 1967 graduate of Cheltenham High School, moved to the area as a teen when his father taught at what was then Dropsie College, a Jewish studies institution in Philadelphia. Though he missed his high school graduation to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces, he was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 1999.
Cheltenham Superintendent Brian Scriven acknowledged the emotionally charged nature of the petition and emphasized that the district will move cautiously and thoughtfully.
“We understand that this is a topic of deep concern to some members of our diverse school community as well as the broader public,” Scriven said. “Given the complexities involved and the heightened public discourse, we must proceed in a deliberate manner.”
At Friday’s meeting, school officials and alumni representatives primarily discussed logistics for an upcoming Hall of Fame induction ceremony scheduled for November. While the student petition prompted the meeting, officials have not confirmed whether a formal process exists for removing someone from the Hall of Fame. Kaufman stated he was unsure if there are any established procedures to revoke such honors.
Gail Hockstein Chase, president of the Cheltenham High School Alumni Association, declined to speak on the issue directly and deferred questions to Kaufman, reflecting the district's cautious approach to a divisive topic.
This debate is unfolding during a broader regional and global dialogue over the war in Gaza, and Cheltenham has not been immune to the ripple effects. The situation intensified last week when conservative commentator and Cheltenham High alumnus Mark Levin criticized the school in a televised interview with Netanyahu, alleging the alumni association refuses to induct him into the Hall of Fame. Kaufman, however, said Levin's name did not come up during Friday’s discussion.
While no resolution has been reached, the district has pledged transparency and fairness in its internal review processes. For now, Cheltenham residents, students, and alumni continue to watch closely as their community grapples with how to handle a high-profile, politically charged legacy in a way that reflects both local values and institutional integrity.
