JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s Education Ministry has banned a novel about a romance between an Israeli woman and a Palestinian man.

The ministry rejected an advisory panel’s recommendation to include “Gader Haya,” or “Borderlife,” for students in advanced high school literature classes at secular state schools after requests by several teachers, Haaretz reported.

An appeal of the decision was denied recently, according to Haaretz.

The Education Ministry said it rejected the book, Haaretz reported, in part because of the need to maintain what was referred to as “the identity and the heritage of students in every sector” and the belief that “intimate relations between Jews and non-Jews threatens the separate identity.”

Naftali Bennett, chairman of the right-wing religious Zionist Jewish Home party, heads the ministry.

“The minister backs the decision made by the professionals,” Bennett’s office told Haaretz.

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