Portable classrooms to be built in 8 settlements

Government decides to build 23 portable structures to serve as classrooms for 600 students allowing school year to commence in West Bank Jewish communities

Roni Sofer|Published: 08.15.10 , 19:48

Two and a half weeks before the school year opens, the government has ordered the construction of 23 portable structures in eight West Bank Jewish communities that will serve as classrooms for some 600 students, despite the settlement construction freeze. Currently, there is a serious shortage of classrooms in the area.

The decision was made in a meeting attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman and Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein. Earlier this month, the Justice Ministry blocked the decision for fear of legal impediments.

Settlers were initially outraged when the Justice Ministry decided to suspend the order and claimed it was motivated by political considerations.

The classrooms will be built in Ofra, Eli, Adam, Immanuel, Elon Moreh and Efrat, among other communities. It was decided that the defense minister will oversee the planning of alternative structures for the following school year.

The selected communities were those whose schools were not on private land and were recognized by the State.

Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar expressed satisfaction at the solution and said it will allow the school year to commence without interruptions.

Benny Katzover, head of the Samaria Settlers' Committee said in response: "It's a disgrace that a war was waged on the students' backs. It appears only a threat to hold a school strike and have the students protest outside the Defense Ministry offices has secured a decision which allows the students to study in the most basic conditions. "

Aviel Magnezi contributed to this report