In response to mounting requests from parents, a Tel Aviv school has canceled a planned outing to Yerushalayim due to the deteriorating security in the capital.

Responding to the report, MK Deputy Knesset Speaker Moshe Feiglin backed the decision made by Tel Aviv officials. He equates canceling the school outing to Yerushalayim with the decision of residents of Kibbutz Nachal Ohz leaving their community during Operation Protective Edge. He laments the current situation in Yerushalayim but stresses parents have reason to be concerned.

Feiglin added that the time has passed in which citizens are compelled to fight for the State of Israel. “You must understand. The British Mandate period has ended… Today we have a state and its primary responsibility is to provide protection for its citizens. This is a primary reason for maintaining a police force and an army”.

Feiglin adds that if the IDF in Gaza and police in Yerushalayim were given the order to be victorious, this would be the case but they are not ordered to do so.

Tel Aviv City Halls responded to the report stressing there is no across-the-board decision pertaining to all trips to Jerusalem. Tel Aviv officials’ explain for the time being, another school has a trip scheduled to the capital next week and currently, there are no plans to cancel that trip. In this case, the city decided to respond to requests from many concerned parents.

Jerusalem PTA officials sent a letter to Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai calling on his office to cancel the decision. PTA officials feel that canceling a trip for bar and bat mitzvah aged students is a major loss for them and therefore, the trip should take place as scheduled.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)