We are pleased to inform you that this week the Education Committee of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, approved the model of the "Learning Cities" as a national program. The committee hosted the Chairman of the Union of Local Authorities, members of the Knesset, government ministries, organizations, students and youth representatives.

The topic was presented by Dr. Orna Mager, the model developer in Israel, in cooperation with representatives of the Israeli network of Learning Cities. The Committee urges the Union of Local Authorities and relevant government ministries (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Education) to allocate dedicated resources for assimilating the Learning City model in all local authorities in Israel, based on the understanding that this is a plan on a national scale and not a plan of individuals only. The committee wishes to strengthen the connection of the joint learning between the Learning communities through the International Center for Learning Cities in Modi'in and with the networks in Europe and around the world.

This achievement has generated many echoes in the government ministries, seeking to join the work and adopt the model as an engine of economic and social growth for the authorities in general and the periphery in particular. The Union of Local Authorities in Israel will appeal to all the authorities to join the Israeli network and the training activities in the Center for Learning Cities. Several Higher Education and colleges had also expressed their interest to cooperate in developing and promoting the model.

I want specially thanked Josef Konvitz for his great contribution in his visit in Israel in last February – this great decision of our parliament is a result of our political and public efforts to promote this agenda based on our cooperation with the global net of PASCAL  - and the visit of Josef convinced the parliament members to implement it as a national programme

Thank you PASCAL Team for your support and cooperation.

Now we are preparing the practical programme for the parliament

Best regards

Orna  

ד"ר אורנה מגר מנהלת המרכז הרב תחומי יועצת ראש העיר לשיוויון מגדרי עיריית מודיעין מכבים-רעות המרכז הרב תחומי, עמק דותן 49 טלפון: 08-9714229, נייד: 052-2605604, פקס: 08-6226757 דוא"ל: [email protected] | www.modiin.muni.il	Dr. Orna Mager Head of the Multi Disciplinary Center Advisor to the Mayor on Women's Status Founder of Israel's Learning City Municipality of Modiin Maccabim Rehut 49 Emek Dotan  St. Modiin Office: 972-8-9714229, Mobile: 972-52-2605604 Fax: 972-8-6226757 eMail: [email protected] | www.modiin.muni.il