Former Yesh Atid MK Shai Piron over the weekend spoke with the press to explain his decision to resign from Knesset.

Speaking to Channel 2 News, Piron begins “If a man accepts a position and he is not pleased with it does he remain? This is not a privilege.”

He explained his decision to enter the political arena surrounding his desire to influence the nation’s education system. “I never thought about becoming a politician and this holds true today for I am not a legislator and I do not know how to play the game. I thought I could lead the Israeli education system and change Israeli society”.

Channel 2:

Did PM Netanyahu ask you to break from Yesh Atid in exchange for becoming Minister of Education?

Piron refused to confirm or deny this.

Piron:

I never entertained doing something immoral or something that would harm the deep friendship between me and Yair Lapid.

Piron praised the actions of Education Minister Naftali Bennett, citing Bennett is implementing the plan he left behind for the ministry.

Piron:

The idea of two teachers in a classroom was my personal idea as is the Hebrew studies for the Arab sector and the plan dealing with mathematics. Bennett came and I am proud he received this ready plan. I am happy for him and credit him for being modest enough to accept the ready plan and implement it.

Regarding the new program to encourage students to take the maximum 5-point mathematics program, society cannot define excellence by math along. This would bring us to a place that one who successfully completes 5-point math studies is better than the others and this would be a profound social and moral failure.

The former minister reflects back to the harsh criticism against him while a cabinet member.

Piron:

This did not weigh in my decisions and I want to tell the Israeli society that if you want quality people to enter politics you are compelled to think about how you speak. One’s hand is on the keyboard in Facebook and one must think, for if not, one will receive politicians who do not care and I do not recommend this for if he is not bothered he should not be representing you.

Political life in Israel is simply intolerable. One cannot be constantly under fire. I did not enjoy this aspect.

Bennett’s Staff Responds:

Shai Piron is an educator in every aspect of his being and will continue contributing wherever he is. Minister Bennett will continue implementing the good things Piron brought to the education system and wish him much success”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)