MK Zevulun Orlev criticized government policy as he toured the town of Beit El in the Binyamin region on Thursday. “It's hard to accept this absurd situation in which the government strangles Beit El, prevents the town from expanding, while right next door there are abandoned IDF camps that could provide land for future growth,” he said.
Orlev, of the Jewish Home party (Habayit Hayehudi), said he would bring up the issue while meeting with the Foreign Affairs and Defense committee.
Local politicians took Orlev to see Beit El's schools. The MK expressed shock at the severe lack of classroom space. “I've been familiar with the school system for many years, and I have never seen such a serious shortage of classrooms,” he said.
"I'm horrified by the thought that next year, there may not be space for all of the students,” he added.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu explicitly excluded schools from the building freeze in Judea and Samaria, Orlev stated. He told those present that he would seek building permits to allow Beit El schools to build and expand in order to make room for the growing population of young students.
Despite the lack of space, Orlev praised the overall quality of the schools he visited.