The escalating rocket attacks on Israel's south put hareidi-religious children at particular risk, MK Yisrael Eichler (United Torah Judaism) warned Sunday. A combination of rapid population growth and a lack of funding has left many such children learning in caravans, not buildings – leaving them far more vulnerable to rocket strikes.
“The city of Ashdod has become the front lines. The problem of children in caravans... has turned from a social problem into a national security problem,” he said.
Eichler turned to Minister of Homefront Defense Matan Vilnai and requested that he take care of the problem immediately. “Right now, when it's relatively calm, is the time to deal with the issue. Not when the sirens are wailing and the rockets crashing,” he said.
“As you know, the hareidi school system is 'blessed' with caravans for thousands of children who are eligible to learn in regular buildings,” he continued. “But the Education Ministry's construction budget was not built for them.”
“This is a phenomenon not only in Ashdod,” he added, “but in every school system in the hareidi community, which the government ignores”
The school year may not start on time for tens of thousands of children in southern Israel. Parents are reluctant to send their children to unfortified classrooms while Gaza terrorists continue to carry out regular attacks.
However, at least some schools will open, including the Chabad-Lubavitch schools, which teach an estimated 1,500 children in Ashkelon alone.