Netanyahu Joins First Graders for Art Class, Discusses Future Leaders

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by Education Minister Yoav Kisch, visited a school in Ramla on Tuesday to mark the start of the academic year. During the visit, Netanyahu briefly took on the role of a teacher for first-grade students.

He joined the children in coloring the Hebrew letter "Shin" as part of their "Shalom Kita Alef" (Hello First Grade) activity. Netanyahu engaged with the students, testing their knowledge of letters and discussing topics like soccer and recess games. He also shared a childhood anecdote about his father, Professor Benzion Netanyahu, who was the namesake of the school.

Netanyahu recounted how his father, as a child, played soccer and broke his leg, quoting him as saying, "Oh children, children, how great the pain!". He praised a student named Ari for his resilience after falling on the field, stating, "Ari, you are good for life in general." He also inquired about how the girls spend their breaks, learning they watch the boys play soccer.

Education Minister Kisch used the occasion to address claims of teacher shortages, stating, "They say there are not enough teachers in the education system. Prime Minister, first, that's fake news, but you are always welcome, no problem." Towards the end of the visit, Netanyahu asked the students if any of them aspired to be prime minister in the future, prompting an enthusiastic response from several children eager to take on the role.

Over two million students began the academic year across Israel.