Security guard with children (file)
Security guard with children (file)Gershon Elinson/Flash 90

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and the municipal parents' organization chair Paz Cohen announced Thursday the continued shutdown of high schools in the capital on Friday, in a demand that the government fund security until the end of the school day.

The strike will be taken up a notch next Sunday, following the decision of the teachers' union in Jerusalem to shut down elementary and middle schools as well after the hours when guards are removed from their posts at the schools.

The government currently only funds security for schools requiring guards according to police instructions until 1:30 p.m. However, most schools in the city don't end instruction until 4:30 p.m., leaving several hours in which Jerusalem schools are left with no defense.

Jerusalem teachers' union chair Moti Samet sent a letter to the elementary and middle school directors, telling them: "from Sunday the students will be sent home at the hour when the security guard ends his partial day of work."

Barkat stated that he "expects from the prime minister to get involved and to solve the security crisis with the governmental ministries. The security situation is getting worse, and there is no development."

"As long as the government continues to shirk its responsibility to secure the educational institutions - we won't abandon our children," said Barkat.

"The security threats don't end at 1:30 p.m., and therefore it is ridiculous to release the security guards as long as the children are in the educational institutions. Just as the Jerusalem municipality doesn't need to fund police officers, it also doesn't need to fund the security at schools that are under the full responsibility of the state."

Cohen, head of the parents' organization, said that "with a heavy heart we continue the strike of the above elementary level schools tomorrow. In the absence of a government decision to fund the security, many institutions lack the minimal required security - and therefore parents and parent councils that decide not to send their children to elementary schools and kindergartens as well will receive our full backing."

"We don't understand what they're waiting for. This isn't a lot of money. A governmental investigation committee costs more," stated Cohen.

As the security situation continues to deteriorate on Thursday, Jerusalem district police took a move that raised large criticism and scorn from residents as they placed numerous metal detectors at various points around the Old City.

Barkat on Thursday called on Jerusalem residents to carry personal firearms to increase the security in the terror-beleaguered capital.