Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu, who hopes to become Israel’s next prime minister, stated on Wednesday the education portfolio will remain in the hands of Likud. His statement followed an announcement by Shas leader Eli Yishai that if Shas emerges with enough power following the election, he will demand the education portfolio to “reintroduce Jewish values into the nation’s school system”.

Netanyahu stated he does not plan handing the education portfolio over to any coalition partners – elaborating that it will be a central point in the Likud Party agenda towards improving the nation’s public school system. Netanyahu a number of weeks ago stated he will personally oversee educational reforms as prime minister.

Netanyahu’s plenum address drew angry responses from a number of lawmakers, who questioned why his remarks must always be political, even during a special Knesset memorial session marking seven years since the assassination of Tourism Minister Rechavam Ze’evi. A number of Labor and Meretz MKs walked out of the plenum session in protest.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)