Bennett Rejects Smotrich Claim of "illiterate Arabs'

Jerusalem, 31 October, 2016 (TPS) -- Education Minister Naftali Bennett rejected claims by his party colleague MK Bezalel Smotrich that “illiterate Arabs” unfairly take university spots away from Jewish Israelis. Last week, the Hebrew-language Channel 2 television reported that Smotrich made the comments during a Knesset session on affirmative action, sparking a shouting match with MK Ahmed Tibi (Joint List).

During a visit to the Jaffa Academic College Monday, Bennet stressed that higher education institutions do not discriminate against any sector of Israeli society.

“We accept everybody. Here at the Jaffa Academic College we have Jews, Arabs, religious and secular people, ultra-Orthodox. In the State of Israel, they all deserve equal opportunities,” Bennett told Israel Radio.