Bennett, Liberman Oppose Equating Budgets Of Chareidi Schools With State Schools

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman spoke out against an agreement between Agudath Yisrael and Degel Hatorah signed on Monday, which included a commitment by Likud leader Netanyahu to equate the budgets of chareidi schools with state school budgets.

Liberman wrote that “Bibi is willing to do everything to return to power even if it means sacrificing the few who still wish to study core curriculums and integrate into the workforce. The future of Israel’s citizens has long ceased to interest Bibi.”

Bennett wrote on Twitter that “transferring huge budgets to schools which refuse to teach English and math will lead to an entire generation of youths without ability to work and make a livelihood.

“This is a move which endangers the future of the state of Israel. It is simply unfair to the chareidi youths who are doomed to ignorance by their political leaders and who will go out to the world unprepared, unequipped with the ability to support themselves and their families. It is also unfair to the rest of Israel’s citizens who will be forced to share a growing tax burden to allow this way of life.

“It is an even greater injustice when in these very days a significant group, the Belz chasidim, are declaring in a strong and serious tone that they wish to provide their children with these essential tools.

“Our goal is to make it easier for chareidi youths to find an honorable living while maintaining their religious identity. The way to achieve this is by increasing the study of math, English and sciences instead of stopping it.

“When political deals decree poverty and suffering on an entire generation, I expect political leaders to prevent this tragedy and not make small-minded considerations.”

Yaakov Eichler, a Belzer journalist, responded to Bennett: “Many members of the public are convinced that if you are the result of studying a core curriculum, it would be best to give up on such studies.”