Netanyahu: Free education for everyone

Prime minister stresses there will be no 'discrimination between sectors' following Lieberman's demand to apply proposal only to children whose parents served in IDF, excluding ultra-Orthodox and Arabs

Attila Somfalvi|Published: 01.08.12 , 10:36

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during discussions ahead of Sunday's cabinet meeting, "Everyone will get free education from the age of three, without any discrimination between sectors. Those opposing free education are hurting disadvantaged populations and young couples."

Netanyahu made the remark following Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's demand to grant free education only to children whose parents served in the IDF.

Related stories:

Liebrman announced Friday that Yisrael Beiteinu would not vote in favor of the lateral budget cuts that are expected to be imposed on the government's ministries, meant to support, among other things, the funding of free education for children ages three and over.

Shas Chairman and Interior Minister Eli Yishai announced Wednesday that his party would vote against the proposed lateral budget cut meant to finance the Trajtenberg Committee recommendations for social reform.

"This is not the time to hurt the Welfare and Housing ministries and the grants given to local authorities – we should be increasing the deficit," he said.

The Treasury met with Coalition representatives Saturday night in an attempt to find a way to vote on the pending lateral cuts, as was recommended by the Trajtenberg Committee.

Now it seems the vote might not even take place given the objection voiced by Liebrman and other ministers from Shas and the Independence parties. Yisrael Beiteinu's demand that the privilege of free education from the age of three be extended only to children whose parents served in the IDF, means that the Orthodox and non-Jewish sectors, including Arabs, might not be included.

The defense cuts will join the proposed, 4% lateral budget cuts Netanyahu aims to inflict on all government ministries, to come up with the NIS 1.5 billion ($389 million) needed for the Trajtenberg plan.