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12 Tishrei 5764 - October 8, 2003 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Kadimah Local Council Refuses to Provide Security for Nesivos Moshe
by Y. Ariel

MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni has demanded the Ministry of Internal Security intervene to protect students at the Nesivos Moshe school in Kadimah after Local Council Chairman Ezra Levy refused to take responsibility for the children's well-being. The council head said he does not recognize the school, a remark that aroused angry reactions since the school operates legally. "The council head is playing with the children's security based on political motivations," said Rabbi Gafni.

Nesivos Moshe is one of the best schools in the Sharon area. After opening in the town of Zoran with 16 students, the school grew until eventually moving to the town of Kadimah. Today 250 students are enrolled there. Various figures have tried to act against the school based on political and anti- religious motivations, but all of their claims have been rejected by the Tel Aviv District Court.

In his letter to MK Yaakov Edri, who serves as deputy minister of internal security, Rabbi Gafni notes that Nesivos Moshe has Education Ministry approval and is legally recognized. According to the national policy, Israel Police pays for 63 percent of security costs while the remaining 37 percent is covered by the local authorities based on the number of students. According to Rabbi Gafni, Levy failed to request the police funding because he wanted to avoid transferring any money to the school.

In response Levy claims two chareidi schools are operating in Kadimah without the consent of the council, which objects to their presence on the grounds that most of the students are not Kadimah residents. "We do not recognize the activities of the schools in question in our town and it is inconceivable for the council to cover 70 percent of the monetary costs of students who are not Kadimah residents," he said. "Unfortunately the activity of the chareidi schools harms the town's government-religious school, Or Torah, by taking away students for Chinuch Atzmai."

Rabbi Gafni says the Council Chairman's remarks are scandalous. "How can an elected official play with human lives based on personal political reasons?" If he objects to having students from outside Kadimah, Gafni asks, why does Levy complain that the government- religious school is allegedly being adversely affected?

"The Council Chairman is directly responsible for their security and well-being. Although the Ministry of Internal Security takes part in the security of Israeli citizens it does not have the right to allow this irresponsible and criminal development to take place in the State of Israel, particularly during these times of security difficulties."

 

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