Israel cancels upcoming school year in areas near Lebanon border amid clashes

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel cancelled the upcoming school year on Tuesday in areas near the border with Lebanon amid cross-border clashes with Hezbollah.

“It has been decided that the school year will not begin this year in the north,” Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch said on X.

“Students from northern communities will be able to attend schools in other parts of Israel,” he added.

More than 62,000 Israelis have been displaced from their areas in norther Israel amid daily cross-border clashes with Lebanese group Hezbollah.

The violence has also forced more than 90,000 Lebanese to flee their homes in southern Lebanon, according to official figures.

Previously, the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pledged to start the school year on Sept.1 in areas near the Lebanese border.

Kisch said closing schools in northern Israel “is an unfortunate decision that was imposed on us and is accepted with a heavy heart.”

The education minister called on Netanyahu and security chiefs to act “now and forcefully” against Lebanon.

Fears have grown about a full-fledged war between Israel and Hezbollah amid an exchange of almost daily attacks.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of a deadly Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 39,100 people since Oct. 7 last year following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio