A new, first-of-its-kind school for youth living in illegal farming outposts in the West Bank — typically extremist so-called hilltop youth — was inaugurated in the settlement of Beit El on Tuesday, in the presence of Education Minister Yoav Kisch and other dignitaries.

Kisch said that the Otzmat HaLev school, one of four such schools established by the government and the first of them to open, would provide an “educational solution” for youths living in the illegal farming outposts and put them on the path of “action and contribution to the State of Israel.”

The schools are being established under the framework of a cabinet resolution designed to support minors living in the outposts, many of whom are school dropouts and at-risk youth.

Although the cabinet resolution’s programs are supposed to help integrate the youths back into educational frameworks, provide them with social welfare, reduce their involvement in violence, and prepare them for military service, the support has been strongly criticized since the youths remain at the illegal farming outposts, which are frequently the sources of violence against local Palestinians.

It was unclear who will ensure that such youths, who live in the outposts without their parents, will go to school, and how they will travel there given that they cannot drive.

According to the Israel Hayom daily, school staff will provide support to students at the farms where they live, in addition to the education they provide at the schools.

“For years, it was mostly the problems [with hilltop youth] that were discussed; today we are presenting the solution,” said Beit El Mayor Shai Alon, who was also........

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