A school in Ramat Gan is just like a school in Shefa-'Am

Following the interception of the Houthi missile last night, which served as a grim reminder that we are still trapped in an eternal war, fragments of the missile fell on a school in Ramat Gan. The school sustained minor damage, and an early morning decision was made—regardless of who initiated it—to demolish the school and rebuild it, citing safety concerns and failure to meet standards.

This raises an important question: what would happen if a similar meeting were held, not at night or early in the morning, but on a bright afternoon, to evaluate the condition of schools in Arab towns regarding safety and compliance with standards? How many tens of thousands of students in Arab communities face the same level of risk—or even more dangerous conditions—than that school in Ramat Gan? Yet no one inspects, no one evaluates, and no one pays attention. And we’re not even mentioning the Negev or the unrecognized villages there, where the facts, figures, and descriptions of the situation don’t even come close to allowing for a meaningful comparison.

Does anyone in the Ministry of Education or another relevant government office even know how many schools in Arab towns need to be demolished and rebuilt due to safety concerns? Or how many schools are somewhat acceptable but still lack adequate shelters or reinforced rooms?

After the deadly missile strike in Shfaram, one of the largest Arab cities, an investigation revealed that 75% of the homes in the city center are unsafe. They lack reinforced rooms, shelters, or even concrete stairwells. It’s as though they are not part of a country that has been at war since its founding.

We demand full equality for all citizens of the state—the right to live in safe and protected homes and to send their children to secure and protected schools. It is the responsibility of the government and the relevant state institutions to address the state of schools in Arab towns and their urban shelters with the same care and commitment they exhibit when dealing with schools in other areas of the country.

"An equitable and fair distribution of public resources, a responsible economic policy that reduces gaps, and promotes social cohesion."

- From the core principles of the "All Its Citizens" party.