Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will hold a meeting Wednesday to discuss whether schools should reopen following the holiday season.
The meeting follows a continued rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Israel, as well as concerns of an additional outbreak following the holiday season.
Among those expected to participate in the meeting are Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton (New Hope), Education Ministry Director General Yigal Slovik, Chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel Haim Bibas, representatives of the parents and teachers, and other professionals.
During a Wednesday morning meeting of the Knesset's Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism) said, "Business owners are paying the price for the fact that schools are out of control."
In his opinion, "the school system does not need to resume operating as long as we are at the height of this wave (the fourth wave of coronavirus infections)."
He added, "The number of people dying of coronavirus is climbing, but the Bennett government has found a solution: Remove the number of daily deaths from the Health Ministry data."