Some 50 Arabs are employed at a construction site near the local school, and the families feel the security arrangements are not enough.
A group of middle school parents in the Binyamin community of Beit El in southern Samaria kept their children home from school on Sunday, as the school and its outdoor sports courts are located near a construction site where approximately 50 Palestinian Authority workers arrive each day.
They sent a message of protest to municipal and school officials that changes are needed before they can confidently allow their children to attend classes. Some parents have indicated that they may keep their children home again if security at the site—which currently has three guards—is not increased.
Residents in municipalities throughout Judea and Samaria, including Beit El, cannot independently determine which workers are allowed into their communities, as the authority lies with the regional Israel Defense Forces commander.