PM Netanyahu Opens the 2015-2016 School Year at the Ramat Keramim School in
Ashkelon
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Tuesday, 1 September 2015), opened
the 2015-2016 school year at the Amirim primary school in Ashdod, where he
was welcomed by the children with flags and songs, and at the Ramat Keramim
primary school in Ashkelon. He was accompanied in Ashdod by Ashdod Mayor Dr.
Yehiel Lasri and Education Ministry Southern District Director Amira Chaim,
and in Ashkelon by Education Minister Naftali Bennett.

In Ashkelon, Prime Minister Netanyahu said: "The first lesson in first grade
is 'Shalom first grade' with the emphasis on shalom [peace].' We educate our
children for peace. A few kilometers from here, Hamas teaches is children
the opposite of peace and it tries, from time to time, to fire at us, at
you. And our policy is clear – zero restraint, zero let-up, zero tolerance
for terrorism. We respond to every firing at our territory, whether by open
or concealed action, and we also foil terrorism like we did yesterday in
Jenin. I wish a quick recovery to the soldier who was wounded. We want peace
but we first of all we must watch over our land, our children, we must watch
over you. This is our first obligation – the security of our children."

Prime Minister Netanyahu added: "There are two major things here – a great
momentum of construction in Ashkelon and momentum in our education system.
In education, we want you to study, expand your knowledge, know how to read
and write, read the Tanakh and also write new things. You should know
mathematics and sciences. I know that you already know how to use computers
but you should use them not just to play games. You should be able to use
them to connect to the entire world, to know what you want to know and to
excel. Don't just excel, be Zionists too. We have just the army and this
land and we need to watch over it. I would like to wish all of you in first
grade and up in his growing and developing school that you should study and
succeed and above all be friends with each other. And remember, each one of
you is different. Respect each other and love one another because we love
you very much. May you have much success."