Sheetrit tours Ofakim schools, bemoans dearth of Zionist education

By ELIE LESHEM
Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit toured schools in Ofakim on Monday to mark the opening of the new school year and bemoaned what he considers the dearth of Zionist education in the country. "We must amend the current situation whereas nearly 60% of Israeli children in the education system do not receive Zionist education and do not study their heritage," Sheetrit said, according to a statement released by his office. "Sadly, a majority [of the students] does not receive the core curriculum sanctioned by law. We must change the policy so that the employment of the core curriculum … is a precondition to receiving funding." The current policy, Sheetrit said, endangers Israel's existence as a Jewish Zionist state.