“My Government has accepted the Dovrat Report, which I consider to be very important.  I have instructed the Directors-General of my office and the Ministry of Finance to ensure the implementation of this report in the coming year.  The implementation of this report will constitute a revolution, and this is a central issue on the agenda of the Government.

And on another topic: I wish to clarify to the members of this faction that I am against a ban of any kind, and that I will not tolerate it! We need unity, and I refuse to accept any banning! I will do anything to achieve maximum unity among the people in order to advance the disengagement and the economic plan.

I wish to thank you (the Minister of Finance) and you, Shlomo (Dovrat).  I think you did a great job.  I thank the Minister of Finance for his commitment to the advancement of this project, and all the experts who dealt with this subject.  I wish to reiterate my Government’s commitment to implement the Dovrat Report, and through this report, to achieve a significant reform in the education system, which will focus on the child, substantially improve the training and status of the teacher, and strengthen the education system.

I know that the strategic committee of the Dovrat Report, headed by the Minister of Education, convened again two weeks ago, and I expect that the final recommendations and the implementation report will be submitted by the Committee next October.

Education in Israel is the most important infrastructure for the development and growth of the State.  Education is the most effective tool to reduce gaps in Israeli society and provide equal opportunity for every child.

I was pleased to learn that the Dovrat Report addressed this issue and recommended a differential budget for the different schools, in order to give preference to disadvantaged students – from the pedagogical aspect and from the aspect of supplying material resources, including nourishment in the educational framework. 

Discussions are currently being held on the formulation of the budget for 2005.  I have instructed the Ministry of Finance and the Director-General of my office that, in determining priorities for next year, emphasis will be placed on the implementation of the Dovrat Report and its integration in the budgetary framework.

I also wish to add that this year already, 160,000 students will be enjoying a hot meal.  I want to thank Ruhama Avraham and Moshe Kahalon who discussed this issue with me.

The negotiations have begun.  It could have been avoided, but that would have entailed the support of all members of the Faction.  I checked it with them, and it became clear that they do not even intend to support the law which will soon be submitted by the Director-General of the Ministry of Justice.  I was therefore left with no choice but to expand the coalition.  The negotiations began yesterday, and I consider it to be a partnership for the purpose of promoting the Disengagement Plan and the plan for economic recovery. 

I have given my instructions to the negotiation teams on these issues.  Clearly, other issues may also be raised during the negotiations.  The question was asked whether there was a need to prepare new guidelines or a coalition agreement.  We will discuss this in the future, although guidelines are determined when there is a new government, while this is merely an expansion of the coalition.  Furthermore, guidelines require the approval of the Knesset, while an agreement needs only to be presented to the Knesset.  The first meeting yesterday was held in a good and quiet atmosphere.  I have instructed the team to do this in a respectable manner, and it would have been better had everyone refrained from publicly commenting on this issue.