Education Minister Kisch declares Northern schools will not reopen for new school year

In a meeting with heads of the Mateh Asher Regional Council, Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced that the upcoming school year will not commence in the evacuated northern communities, as reported by Israeli media.

"Unfortunately, the school year will open this year in the north in a different layout regarding the home front, in light of the security complexities in the region," Kisch said.

He added, "This is an unfortunate decision that was imposed on us and is accepted with a heavy heart. I once again call on the Prime Minister and the heads of the security establishment to act now and strongly against Lebanon - there is no escaping the decision to wage a massive war against Lebanon to restore peace and stability to the residents of the north and for the future of the State of Israel."

Education Minister Yoav Kisch had initially expected a decision by August 1 on whether schools in northern Israel could reopen. His hope was that the war in the region would end by then, enabling residents to return. Despite this, the Education Ministry now predicts that it will be a while before every student from northern Israel can return to their original schools. This affects more than 16,000 students currently enrolled in northern schools.

* The Jerusalem Post contributed to this report