National Religious Party leader MK Zevulun Orlev is accusing the government of discriminating against 500 yeshiva students in Sderot who still lack the proper fortification to protect them against rocket attacks.

Speaking in his capacity as chairman of the Knesset State Control Committee, Orlev questioned why yeshiva students are being ignored while college students are receiving the required protection. He made his remarks during a meeting dealing with the issue of fortification of buildings in the Greater Sderot Area.

Orlev pointed out the yeshiva has been in the city for 14 years and the dormitories housing the students remain vulnerable to attacks. He plans to summon Ministers Barak (defense) and Boim (housing) to explain to the committee why the two government agencies are unable to iron out their differences regarding budgetary responsibilities and do what must be done to protect the students.

Representing the yeshiva at the committee session was Shlomo Kostiner, who showed a copy of a letter from the Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai to Housing Ministry Director-General Chaim Fialkoff, showing the yeshiva has been overlooked in the NIS 327 million fortification plan.

They also pointed out that they view the discrimination as a serious matter, adding in Sapir College, students do not reside on premises but in the yeshiva they do, yet they are not being included in the plan.

Fialkoff explained that currently, students are residing in caravan dormitories which are slated to be replaced by permanent structures. Therefore he explained, there is no need since the current building code demands the permanent structure include the fortification against attacks.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)