In Israel, they know how to return children from the Internet to books

Against the backdrop of the Jewish book passing throughout the country, Israel’s Minister of Culture and Sports Miri Regev said that she would try to change the Law on Books held in the Knesset under the previous government. Regev said she wants to change the current situation, in which today the majority of Israeli citizens rarely buy new books.

“I see fewer and fewer people going into bookstores and buying books,” says the Israeli culture minister. “Everyone is suffering from the current situation—both readers and authors.” On the one hand, we must maintain a balance between the affordable price of a book and copyright protection, and on the other hand, we must not forget that a book is spiritual food.”

Regev also emphasized that the “book law” will not be repealed, but it will be changed to bring as many readers as possible to bookstores. Books are not a luxury for an Israeli family. “We want to give our youth the opportunity to disconnect from the Internet and return to the printed word and the Hebrew language,” the Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports concluded his speech.

The Book Law came into force in Israel on February 6, 2014. According to it, new books cannot be sold at a discount for 18 months after their publication. The consequences of this law were simply terrifying: book sales fell by 35%, and 60% fewer new books were published compared to the previous year.