Madam Minister in charge of Israel's 60th Anniversary celebrations, Ruhama Avraham Balila,
Mayor of Holon, Mr. Moti Sasson,
Knesset Members Limor Livnat and Sarah Merom Shalev,
Ms. Marit Danon, responsible for the Prime Minister's Office Authority for the Status of Women,
Dear guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I arrived here to honor this important event, on the occasion of International Women's Day and Israel's 60th Anniversary celebrations. Unfortunately, eight households across Israel will, after Shabbat, resume their Shiva on the death of young boys and men who were murdered in the dreadful terror attack on Thursday evening at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva. The Mercaz Harav Yeshiva has, for many years, been a kind of home for me, a place from which to derive encouragement, enjoy the special teaching atmosphere which prevails among its walls, familiarize myself with those who have always been and remain "the salt of the earth", and know that this place would produce the next generation of leaders from the Religious Zionist movement – that deeply-rooted movement and one of the most important links in the backbone of this people and this country. Let me clarify at the outset – no political differences can cloud the warmth and regard I feel toward the religious-Zionist public. Mercaz Harav is to me the very symbol and heart of this public – a symbol of values, education for excellence and love for this country. The terrorist who entered the Yeshiva on Thursday evening knew exactly where he was going and whom he sought to harm – the best of our sons, the elite of the youth, out of which outstanding soldiers, excellent commanders and public leaders emerge, motivated by a burning commitment to the people and the land. He succeeded in implementing his evil scheme and murdered eight bright scholars in cold blood, in the heart of the Yeshiva, in the center of Jerusalem, in a place where we thought no harm would ever befall any Jew studying Torah.
For the sixty years of Israel's independence, we never ceased fighting for our existence. This war for our existence is conducted every month, every day, every hour. It takes place on Israeli soil, on our borders, and in various places around the globe. The day when this battle will finally end is unknown, but one thing is clear to me beyond any doubt – we will prevail. Israel is an existing fact and it will remain the home of the Jewish people forever. No force in the world can break the Zionist enterprise. Meanwhile, we must continue fighting with all means at our disposal, political and security, and employ our know-how and capabilities simultaneously in order to safeguard our existence and security. I know that this recent period seems particularly difficult for some people, especially those who are exposed daily to Qassam rocket attacks and threats which deprive them of their joy and tranquility. There are many who strive to make us despair of the chances for peace and security. To those I say – we have been through tougher periods than this. Israel is strong, confident and ready to take on any challenge. The situation is complex and we are dealing with it with sound judgment and equanimity, always looking at the big picture, which is larger than the overall sum of its parts.
I believe there is a direct connection between the Qassam and Grad rockets – which adversely affect the lives and quality of living of the residents of the south – and the terror attack in Jerusalem. Both were designed by their perpetrators to make our lives here intolerable. It will not happen. Just as we have, over the years, succeeded in deterring a long list of countries which sought to fight us, just as we achieved deterrence vis-à-vis Hizballah, which, for almost a year and a half, refrained from firing one single rocket at us in fear of the price it would have to pay, we will achieve deterrence vis-à-vis the Hamas murderous gangs in the Gaza Strip and the terror organizations operating against us.
Last Wednesday, the Government made a number of decisions aimed at achieving deterrence in the south of the country, and we are getting ready to carry them out. Meanwhile, what is required of us is stamina and determination. This spirit is the right spirit in which to conduct the current battle, and this is how it will be. This is what characterizes us, it is what has characterized us in the past, and this is how it will be in the future.
Madam Minister, Mr. Mayor, Distinguished Guests,
This evening's event is intended to give expression, in the framework of International Women's Day, to the campaign which is conducted, and will continue to be conducted, to transform Israeli society into a society which gives a real, tangible and appropriate opportunity for women to realize their rights and capabilities, as they deserve. We have come a long way over many years. As we celebrate Israel's 60th Anniversary, we are blessed with the fact that there is a law in Israel for equal rights for women, a law for the prevention of domestic violence, a law for equal retirement age, a law for the prevention of sexual harassment, and other laws for appropriate representation for women in public offices and positions. Over the past few years, extensive government activities have been carried out in spheres which have, in the past, been the exclusive domain of women's organizations. These organizations put issues on the public agenda and prepared the ground for government activity in areas such as battling violence against women and trafficking in women, and activities aimed at extricating women from the cycle of prostitution. However, despite all these achievements, in which we can take pride, we, as a society and a country, still have a very long way to go. In recent days there have been publications about data indicating that there is still a dramatic gap in salaries between women and men in identical positions. This gap is intolerable. It attests to the fact that we have not yet implemented some of the obligations, including the legal obligations, derived from our desire to create real gender equality. Despite the fact that the Director General of the Holon Municipality is a woman, as far as senior posts in the public sector are concerned – and also, to some extent, in the private sector – there is still a gap which in no way reflects inability or lack of potential, but rather a lack of real opportunity and the absence of a social infrastructure which would allow women, particularly women who wish to raise a family, but not only them, to reach a variety of posts and positions which match their ability and talent.
We have decided to dedicate Israel's 60th year to the children of Israel, the citizens of tomorrow, the future of this country. We are convinced that there is an inevitable connection between nurturing the younger generation and creating real equality for women in our society. As a government, we are making special efforts to invest more than ever in treating children at risk, on the basis of the recommendations by a government-appointed committee, headed by Prof. Schmidt. The government has decided to adopt and implement all the committee's recommendations, with an investment of millions of shekels this year, next year and in the years ahead. We have increased the education budget and made a commitment to reduce the number of children per class, in order to improve the quality of education. We have decided to invest billions of shekels more in the framework of an education reform which will improve the quality of teaching and create a far greater opportunity for students, particularly in underprivileged areas and in Israel's periphery.
I am pleased that the Headquarters for Israel's 60th Anniversary celebrations, headed by Minister Ruhama Avraham Balila, decided to cooperate with the Prime Minister's Office Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women, headed by Ms. Marit Danon, to celebrate women's contribution to children in Israel and society at large. Marit told me that when they were seeking to honor a small group of women who particularly excelled in promoting children's interests, it was not an easy task to select a small group out of the many women who dedicate their time, talent and ability, out of a deep personal commitment, in order to nurture the children of Israel. Many women do this, and this evening, and this year in particular, we wish to honor and cherish them.
I conclude by thanking the women's organizations in Israel for their long-standing activity for the welfare of children, and also the women who work daily, sometimes for a lifetime, in order to advance the children of Israel.
Thank you very much.