Minister of Education and chairman of the Habayit Hayehudi party, Naftali Bennett greeted students beginning the new school year in Sderot. The Minister was quoted as saying:"Just before the start of the school year, we arrived at a festive event here to strengthen the residents of the south who are our brothers, We are sending a clear message to the enemy on the other side of the fence - this city cannot be broken. The State of Israel will win." Bennett added that,
"We will restore peace and security to the Gaza envelope and Sderot. The school year is already in the making, and we wanted to allow a respite for the children so that they can enjoy themselves before returning to normal. Our commitment to the residents of the south is to provide quiet and stability, and this we will continue to do. Strong security needs a strong back. It deserves them. We will continue to strengthen the residents of the south and back them up fully. "