Bennett criticised over ‘unite Jerusalem’ education programme

Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett came under severe criticism yesterday after he announced the upcoming school year as the “year of united Jerusalem”, Al-Resalah newspaper reported.

Bennett, from the Jewish Home party, wrote on Twitter that he is dedicating the 50th anniversary of the occupation of East Jerusalem to studying the city’s history, claiming that Israel’s history started in this city.

“Our history began in Jerusalem, and it from there that we draw all our energies during these times. If anyone tries to cut us off from the city they will only do the opposite – make us more attached to Jerusalem,” he wrote.

Israeli Member of the Knesset Stav Shaffir condemned the remarks, writing on Facebook: “‘From Jerusalem our history began’, so said Bennett this morning. Excuse me for the pettiness, but it is worth the Minister of Education knowing that according to the Torah, we came here from Egypt.”

She also wrote: “Bennett has decided to re-write the Bible to fit his own political needs. For his information: The Jewish people began at Mt. [Mount] Sinai and not in Jerusalem.”

Meanwhile, the head of the opposition Zionist Party, Isaac Herzog, said: “This morning I heard education minister Naftali Bennett, who woke up with a need to make headlines, declare a year of a ‘united Jerusalem’… I wonder to which Jerusalem Bennett was referring – a Jewish, safe Jerusalem or a Jerusalem with 300,000 Palestinians who hate us annexed into it.”