Netanyahu visits school in Ramle hit by missile during Iran war as Israel classes start nationwide

The prime minister, alongside Education Minister Yoav Kisch, visited the school and talked with teaching and administrative staff, as well as the students on their first day of class.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited on Tuesday the Benzion Netanyahu School located in Ramle, which was damaged by an Iranian missile during the last war, as classes start nationwide in Israel.

After the missile strike damaged the school, work began to rehabilitate and renovate the building, with the official inauguration happening just in time for the first day of school.

Netanyahu, alongside Education Minister Yoav Kisch, visited the school and talked with teaching and administrative staff, as well as the students who attended their first day of class.

Ramle Mayor Michael Vidal also participated in the event.

Some 3 million Israelis go back to school

Some 2.6 million students are expected to begin the 2026-2027 school year in Israel’s schools and kindergartens on Tuesday, including some 180,000 first-graders, as the Education Ministry launches new programs and expands initiatives introduced in recent years.

The ministry is placing particular emphasis on strengthening students’ sense of belonging and resilience, deepening studies of identity and heritage, introducing financial education into the school system, and expanding the use of artificial intelligence in both learning and examinations.

As students return to classrooms, the ministry said it would focus the school year on three areas: belonging and security, identity and roots, and knowledge and tools for coping with a changing world.

“We are opening the year with great responsibility and with a clear direction: to strengthen the sense of belonging and resilience of Israel’s students, deepen identity, values, and heritage, while at the same time giving them the knowledge and tools that will enable them to lead and succeed in a rapidly changing world,” Education Minister Yoav Kisch said.