Bnei Brak School Gates Welded Shut Amid Dispute With City Hall
Students arriving at the "Afikim" state-religious school in Bnei Brak on September 7 discovered the entrance gates had been welded shut, preventing access. Parents allege this is the latest act in a long-standing campaign by the municipal government against the co-educational school, which follows the Ministry of Education's curriculum. According to Sarit, a parent, problems began after a rocket explosion damaged the school's facade during a war, prompting the municipality to relocate students to a remote, temporary facility. For a year, younger grades reportedly studied in substandard conditions without air conditioning, proper restrooms, and with frequent utility outages.
Parents were promised a return to the renovated original building, but Sarit stated that the building was fully reconstructed, seemingly for other purposes. Students were only returned to the repaired building a month prior to the gate incident, yet issues persisted. Sarit believes "forces in the city" oppose the co-educational nature of the school. Initially, the municipality allegedly failed to provide a sign for the entrance, causing confusion for young children, and later posted a sign indicating the entrance was for girls only.
The welding of the gates, described by Sarit as a "shocking culmination," left parents rushing to work and frightened children stranded outside. Police were called, and it took considerable time for the gates to be opened. Sarit expressed distress over the ongoing disruption and the municipality's alleged refusal to allow religious students to enroll in Ramat Gan schools while failing to provide adequate facilities in Bnei Brak.
The school principal provided testimony to the police. The Bnei Brak municipality issued a statement asserting that separate, organized entrances were created for various educational institutions on the site to prevent friction. They claim the school's administration ignored these arrangements and, in a "populist gesture," refused to use the designated entrance, leading to the gate being opened only after the delay. The municipality dismissed claims of discrimination as "unfounded" and urged the school administration to act responsibly to maintain normalcy.
