Schools Set to Reopen After Home Front Command Eases Restrictions, Except in Border Communities

The Home Front Command announced this evening, Monday, that all restrictions across the country, except in the communities along the confrontation line, will be lifted and will take effect tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. While only partial activity will be allowed along the confrontation line and in several northern communities, the rest of the country will move to full activity status without restrictions.

Under the changes, the confrontation line guidance area and the communities of Safsufa, Meron, Or HaGanuz, Bar Yohai, Yesud HaMa'ala, Ksra-Samia, Beit Jann, and Sde Eliezer will move to partial activity status. In these areas, educational activities may be held and workplaces may open only in buildings or places where it is possible to reach a standard protected space within the time required for taking shelter. Gatherings and services in these areas will also be limited to up to 100 people in an open area and up to 400 people indoors. In addition, the rest of the country will see significant easing with a full move to full activity status, without any restrictions.

The Home Front Command stressed that instructions must continue to be followed and that the public should stay updated through official distribution channels. The Education Ministry said: "In accordance with the updated Home Front Command instructions, studies will resume tomorrow in all educational institutions across the country and will take place fully, in person, and in regular educational settings. In the confrontation line in the north and in the communities of Or HaGanuz, Safsufa, Meron, Bar Yohai, Yesud HaMa'ala, Ksra-Samia, Beit Jann and Sde Eliezer, educational activity may be held in a building or in a place from which a standard protected space can be reached within the time required for taking shelter."

"The move is consistent with the policy presented today by Education Minister Yoav Kisch, according to which efforts should be made to return to in-person learning as quickly as possible when security conditions allow it. As for the matriculation exams, there will be no change in the decisions already made for this week. In accordance with the minister's policy, Israeli students will not take external matriculation exams this week. The Education Ministry will publish a formal notice in the coming days containing the updated exam dates and the testing format for each subject."

Following the launches from Iran toward northern Israel, it was decided in Israel last night to impose broad restrictions across the country. The IDF Spokesperson said that the Home Front Command updated the instructions in all areas, including restrictions on schools, hospitals, workplaces, and a ban on gatherings. In addition, no classes were held across the country. When the launches began, the Home Front Command announced an immediate shift to an orange defense policy throughout the country. The first implication was that schools from the north to the south would not hold classes in any age group. Education Minister Yoav Kisch announced that the matriculation exams scheduled for this week were also canceled.