Debate in northern Israel about reopening two schools amid cross-border fire

Communities in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel have been debating in recent weeks whether two high schools in the area should resume full operations amid ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, Haaretz reported on Monday.

Since Oct. 8, the day after the beginning of the war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire on a near-daily basis.

Thousands of people left their homes and moved to safer areas on both sides of the border. A few days ago, the head of the regional council of Upper Galilee, the area in northern Israel deserted by its inhabitants since the start of cross-border fighting with Hezbollah, called on the Israeli government to "end the war by May," at which point, he asserts, residents intend to return to their homes.

According to Haaretz, the Israeli army recently said that "there is no reason not to reopen" two schools – Einot Hayarden in the village of Amir and Emek Hahula in Kfar Blum, both located at around 7 km of the border, adjacent to the contested Lebanese village of Ghajar.

However, some parents are not satisfied with the decision as they are worried "about the trip to and from school" and about the fact that the "schools aren't fully protected against rockets."     

"We won't send our children on a 40-minute trip in both directions on Route 90 when missiles are being intercepted overhead. We won't be sitting ducks," said the mother of a student who attends the school of Emek Hahula.

However, other parents think that despite their concerns, the "advantages of sending their children back to the two schools outweigh the disadvantages", according to Haaretz." The after-hours classes aren't a solution," said Adva Hinga Bar-Zait from the village of Kadarim, whose daughter normally studies at Einot Hayarden.

"It's an unbearable difficult decision," she added, but the "social and academic harm caused by the after-hours format is even worse."

In the Upper Galilee area, two of four high schools are very close to the border and will not be reopening any time soon. The dilemma is "regarding the other two, both of which are only partially operating."

The school of Emek Hahula is normally attended by 1,200 students but today given the circumstances, only "around 250 are coming to classes from communities very nearby." Students from communities farther south are "studying in a variety of temporary frameworks, such as after-hours classes held at elementary schools in those communities."

Orna Simhon, director of the Education Ministry's northern district, told Haaretz that "work is now being done to prepare additional mobile classrooms in Ramat Korazim" but that the work is expected to take "roughly six weeks, which is close to the end of the school year." 

Despite the army's stated position, parents who attended a meeting last week with officers from the Israeli army and regional council officials said that there were "disagreements even among the officers," notably between the representatives of the Home Front Command, who said "there's no problem with putting the kids on school buses and transporting them to the schools," and the Northern Command's representative, who is against it.

According to Haaretz, tenth through twelfth graders will apparently return to Einot Hayarden after the Pesach holiday, which concludes at the end of April. However, Emek Hahula has not yet made a decision, but it will "depend largely on how the parents feel."

The Israeli Army spokesperson's unit said that all school openings are "subject to daily situational assessments that Northern Command sends to local governments, but as of now, both schools are permitted to reopen."