Olmert to Sderot parents: Send your kids to school
As residents of rocket-battered town continue to protest partial fortification of classrooms in city and nearby communities, prime minister tells them 'the area has been under attack for years and everyone completed their studies safe and sound'
During an conference on education held in the city of Holon on Monday evening, Olmert urged all parents in Sderot and the Gaza vicinity communities to send their children to school on September 2.
"Please, with all the dangers you face, do not deny your children the experience of the first day of school.
"I allow myself to say that I am familiar with these dangers," the prime minister added. "We will uphold all the instructions issued by the Home Front Command, which is the professional body which can guarantee the schoolchildren's safety.
"Since the Home Front Command's decision, the High Court also made a decision (regarding the fortification of classrooms), and I would like to announce that we will build 13 new schools in Sderot and the Gaza vicinity.
"This will not take a month, and neither will it take two or three months. This takes time. These schools will be completely fortified and will allow the students to enjoy the best studying conditions in the country. Thank God, the area has been under attack for years and everyone completed their studies safe and sound."
'We have sufficient fortification'
The fortification of Sderot and the Gaza vicinity schools had been the focus of a well-publicized disagreement between the High Court and the prime minister –the former criticizing Olmert for not doing enough and the latter insisting he has the final say.
"I still believe – and even according to the Home Front Command – we have sufficient fortification… but if the High Court rules (we must fortify all the classrooms) we will do it in the best possible way," Olmert said during Sunday's cabinet meeting.
"We are building 16 new schools in the (Gaza vicinity) area. They will be completely fortified and up to the highest code… it's time stop the sanctimonious ranting about nothing being done. What we're planning there is revolutionary," he added.
As for Sderot's existing schools, a source in the Prime Minister's Office told Ynet that three schools will be completely fortified by the beginning of the school year, and eight of the 24 schools left will be finished by the time the High Court's extension on the matter expires.
The fortification of all other schools is ongoing, and they will continue to use their secure rooms until the process is completed, added the source.
