Amid ongoing uncertainty in north, gov't eyeing possible delay to school year

The Prime Minister's Office has in recent days begun holding talks with the heads of the local municipalities in the north over the possibility that the school year will not open on September 1 because of the ongoing tensions with Hezbollah and the potential for a major flare-up – essentially extending the situation that has existed since Oct. 7, when Hezbollah joined Hamas in attacking Israel and forced the northern residents to evacuate to the south, Israel Hayom has learned.

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It is unclear if the decision to hold the talks is a result of a new assessment on the possibility of the war being dragged out into the next school year and escalating further, or whether this is just a preparatory step to make sure Israel would be ready for any scenario.

A decision not to send back children to school would also mean that tens of thousands of residents would continue to stay in hotels in central Israel beyond July and into the fall.

The dialogue with the heads of the authorities has been going on for several days to lay the necessary budgetary framework for having the children stay out of school and the residents remain in hotels.

If the school year indeed does not open in the north in September due to security constraints, significant budgetary solutions would be required. The Prime Minister's Office said the following in response to the Israel Hayom report: "As per the Prime Minister's directive, we are preparing for any scenario according to the instructions of the security forces and in coordination with the heads of the municipalities."