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War Still Fresh, Israeli Children Return to School

CBN

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- More than 2 million Israeli children started the new school year on Monday, many having spent large chunks of the summer running for shelter from Palestinian rockets fired from the Gaza Strip.

To meet the growing population, Israel constructed 2,100 new classrooms and built an additional 495 preschools.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Education Minister Shai Piron were on hand to welcome students at two schools, where they encouraged the youngsters to befriend one another and take their studies seriously.

"Be good friends with each other and be hungry for knowledge. This is what distinguishes us and gives our people special strength," Netanyahu told the kids. "We are the People of the Book and today the people of the tablet as well. We hold on to our heritage and also the future."

"Study the Bible, our heritage, math, computers and science. Our heritage and the future go hand in hand. Be hungry for knowledge on behalf of the people of Israel, the State of Israel, the Land of Israel, yourselves and your families. We will take care to give you knowledge and security," he said.

Minister Piron, an ordained Israeli rabbi, also had some good advice for the country's newest students.

"Today, as you start first grade, I would like to give you an assignment, not homework," he said. "Look around. Think about who has fewer friends, look around and ask who made fewer trips over the summer," Piron told them on their first day of school.
 
"This is an assignment for each of you. If during the year a child does not come to school because he is sick, don't forget to call him. Treat your teachers with respect. When you talk to each other in the yard, don't forget to talk nicely. Our greatest test is not how we behave in wartime, but how we behave in times of peace. Our true test is the test of morality, identity and treating each other properly," he said.

Netanyahu encouraged students, who lived under seemingly unending rocket barrages, they would have more opportunity to relax and play during the upcoming fall holidays.

"I know that you did not have as nice a summer as you had planned," he told them. "I hope that during the upcoming holidays you will have time to relax, play and be with your families and friends."

"Be friends with each other," Netanyahu continued. Be good children for your parents and be excellent pupils. Have a safe and successful year. Together we will continue the momentum of development because this is the strongest response to our enemies. They thought that they could drive us out of here. We are building up, and will build up this country and this part of it."

Under the directive of the Education Ministry, the entire Israeli student body will spend the first two weeks of school sharing their experiences and perceptions of Operation Protective Edge, the IDF's response to Hamas rocket fire, as well as Operation Brother's Keeper, the search for three Israeli teens kidnapped and murdered by Hamas operatives in Gush Etzion.

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