Minister of Science & Technology (Yesh Atid) Yaakov Peri planned to visit a science and technology camp that is funded by his office but parents asked him not to as he headed the ministerial committee that formulated the chareidi draft law. Peri decided to comply with the request and the official visit was cancelled, Yediot Achronot reports.

The report cites that in actuality, the minister planned to visit two camps that receive funding from his office, both chareidi affiliated, but parents threatened if he does go ahead with the visit, they will shut the camps.

The ministry funded 50 camps nationwide this summer, concentrating on outlying areas. Five of these camps are listed as being affiliated with the chareidi community.

When word of the planned visit hit the camp, the minister’s staff received messages that his presence is unwanted and would not be tolerated due to his senior role in formulating the new chareidi draft law. The minister’s aides told the press that Mr. Peri preferred to permit the camps to continue so he canceled his visit because he did not want to see the children suffer for the actions of their parents.

“The children mustn’t suffer due to the actions of a few extremist parents” stated Peri. We may not put political interests ahead of the welfare of the children.”

The ministry reports 3,750 children benefited from these camps which place an emphasis on computers, scientific experiments and programming.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)