Israeli Leaders Visit Schools as New Academic Year Begins

Israel's new academic year, תשפ"ז, commenced Tuesday with approximately 2.6 million students returning to schools and kindergartens nationwide, including 180,000 first-graders. Senior political figures, including the Prime Minister, President, ministers, and Knesset members, visited educational institutions across the country.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched the year in Ramla alongside Education Minister Yoav Kisch. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana attended the opening in Ma'ale Adumim, where he addressed stickers bearing his image placed outside his children's school. Ohana condemned the act, stating, "There is no violent, abhorrent, and vile camp like the camp capable of thus defacing the first day of school for my children, Ella and David, who are starting sixth grade this morning. This is the entire route from home to school. This is not intended for me, it is intended for them."

President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal visited Ein Mofetz and Sheikh Danun. National Unity party leader Gadi Eisenkot opened the school year in Nahariya. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was scheduled to greet students in Rishon Lezion with Mayor Raz Kinstlich, touring a new kindergarten complex and school.

The article also references related special projects on the rising cost of private tutoring and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent conflicts on students entering middle school.