Thursday, June 11, 2009

Inane politics at this moment in time!


Barak Nixes Classrooms for 2,450 Samaria Children

Yehudah Lev Kay Samaria Children Lack Classrooms

“How is it possible that in a Jewish state something like this can take place? Who will take responsibility for these children?”

“Defense Minister [E Barak is advancing a political agenda on the backs of students in Samaria,” Jewish Home MK Zevulun Orlev said in a stormy meeting in the Knesset education committee on Wednesday about the lack of classroom space in Shomron (Samaria) Shomron Regional Council Head Gershon Mesika revealed during the session that 2,450 children currently lack classrooms because the Defense Ministry refuses to sign the necessary papers to add classrooms to existing schools and build new nursery schools for young children.

“There is a concerted governmental effort to hold up construction and the children are being held hostage,” Mesika said. “The situation is impossible. The government must take kids out of this political game.”

Kids in harsh conditions

Officials from Shomron said that the area currently lacks nine nursery schools, 24 nursery school classrooms, 15 kindergartens, two kindergartens for children with special needs, and 36 elementary school classrooms. Four of the communities singled out as being in dire straits were Tal Menashe, Yakir, Yitzhar, and Elon Moreh.

“In the current academic year, children were stuffed into schools and nurseries under difficult and crowded conditions,” Mesika explained. “Even visiting officials from the Defense Ministry could not believe what they saw. Next year the situation will be unbearable.”

Education officials explained that plans already exist for 18 additional educational structures in Samaria, but the Defense Ministry refuses to give the necessary approvals to start construction.

A Defense Ministry spokesman said that the issue is currently under review.

National Union MK Yaakov Katz was particularly harsh in his criticism of the Defense Ministry at the meeting. “The last 10 years under Barak will be infamous in the history of the state of Israel for discrimination against Jews,” he said. “How is it possible that in a Jewish state something like this can take place? Who will take responsibility for these children?”

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