International Bible Quiz
International Bible QuizYonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Hananel Malka of Israel won the Fifth International Bible Quiz for adults, held in Jerusalem on Tuesday night.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu kicked off the quiz by speaking about the importance of studying the Bible, and the connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel.

"I study Bible every week with my son, and I draw enormous strength from it," said Netanyahu. "Therefore I decided to re-establish the Bible Quiz for adults, and I renewed the Bible department."

Netanyahu continued "that's the spirit that gives us the strength to stand against all of the challenges and pressures."

The prime minister also leveled criticism on the united Labor and Hatnua party's heads Yitzhak Herzog and Tzipi Livni for saying that the Kotel (Western Wall) will remain in Israel hands, even while planning to give up the eastern part of the capital to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

"How will it stay in our hands? Swallowed up amid Palestinian territory? And how will we reach it? In a military convoy? In APCs (armored personnel carriers)? We didn't return to the Kotel after 2,000 years to reach it in APCsI tell you today, on the last (eighth) candle of the Hanukkah holiday - the Kotel will stay in our hands," said Netanyahu.

Deputy Education Minister Avi Wortzman (Jewish Home) said "the Bible was and is the main unifier of our identity as a nation. The bible is the source of our lives, it is the source of our rights to fight for our lives here, in the land of Israel."

"This week we launched the 929 program (there are 929 chapters in the entire Bible - ed.) which is meant to provide accessibility to the Bible for all edges of the Israeli rainbow," said Wortzman.

He continued "the Bible is connected to all, and we must do everything so that it returns to the main street of Israeli society. One of the measures of the success of the program is that in coming years different candidates will take part in the Bible Quiz, from all widths of the Israeli scene."