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Photo: Eli Elgarat
Meretz head Yossi Beilin
Photo: Eli Elgarat
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Shas faction head Yakov Margi
Photo: Gil Yohanan

Beilin slams approval of haredi school funding

Meretz chairman says government endorsement of bill proposing local authorities fund recognized ultra-Orthodox schools proves rightist inclinations of Olmert government

Meretz leader MK Yossi Beilin on Sunday slammed the government for its endorsement of a bill that would require local authorities to fund recognized unofficial ultra-Orthodox schools.

 

If approved by the Knesset, the bill would make it obligatory for local authorities to fund ultra-Orthodox schools in the same manner as they fund public schools.

 

"The government's decision amounts to submission to the haredim and shows the true rightist-haredi face of this government that seriously harms the education system," Beilin said. 

 

The bill was proposed by Shas MK and minister-without-portfolio Meshulam Nahari. All ministers voted in favor of the bill except for Education Minister Yuli Tamir (Labor) who abstained.

 

Tamir abstains 

Tamir suggested that local authorities voluntarily provide funding for ultra-Orthodox schools to thwart the bill's adoption.

 

"The vote of Labor Party ministers did not surprise anyone, but the education minister's abstention was really shameful," Beilin added.

 

Tamir said the bill would pave the way for government funds reaching education institutions affiliated with Hamas and the Islamic Movement in Israel.

 

Shas faction head Yakov Margi refuted Tamir's argument as "hallucinatory."

 

"The argument that the State of Israel will have to fund the Islamic Movement is hallucinatory. The education minister is willing to openly … abandon Jewish students instead of joining forces to fight the funding of the Islamic Movement," he said.

 

Responding to Beilin's remarks, Margi said: "To MK Beilin I say, 'This was a government submission to the Jews and I regret the fact that this bothered you.'"

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.11.07, 19:24
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