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Former General, Current MK Sees 'No Military Threat to Israel'

Knesset member and former general Amram Mitzna contends that Israel faces no immediate threats in the region, and should use this window of opportunity to jump-start negotiations with Palestine.

Amram Mitzna speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv May 4, 2003.
Mitzna, the dovish former general crushed by Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon in Israel's January election, announced on Sunday his
resignation as head of the main opposition Labor Party. REUTERS/Nir
Elias

NIR/JV - RTRMXK7
Amram Mitzna speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv, May 4, 2003. — REUTERS/Nir Elias

The chairman of the Knesset’s Education, Culture and Sports Committee, Knesset member Amram Mitzna, has in recent weeks racked up long hours of loaded discussions with the heads of the ultra-Orthodox parties. This effort was part of preparing the legislation that is supposed to cut the budgets of ultra-Orthodox educational institutions that do not teach core subjects.

The new legislation, spearheaded by Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party, also includes the cancellation of the Nahari Law, which obligates local authorities to fund unofficial educational institutions, a move viewed by the ultra-Orthodox community as persecution. As far as the ultra-Orthodox are concerned, this is one of the most trying periods in recent decades. Not only were they kicked out of the government to make room for Lapid, but they were also unable to block the Equal Burden Law. Now they face budget cuts to their educational institutions.

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