School bullying victims meets the president
Israel’s Reuven Rivlin welcomed 12-year-old Agam Asayeg to his residence Beit HaNasi after she suffered physical and mental abuse at school last week.

President Rivlin meets Agam Photo: Mark Neyman (GPO)
Agam’s parents told the president of their decision to publicize what happened in order to ensure that such things do not happen again and said that many parents had contacted them. The president thanked them for their decision, saying “it could happen to any child.”
The president told Agam that it was important for him to meet her as quickly as possible, saying that “kids can be cruel to each other, and we must not stand by when it happens, or be frightened of anyone.” He hugged Agam and told her to believe in herself.
In a post that the president publicized after the meeting, he said: “The picture of Agam’s bruised face and body is a warning sign to us all – as parents, educators, as human beings. You kids, and you parents, I say again as I have said over my years here at Beit HaNasi – don’t stand by. Agam Asayeg, 12 years old, is not alone.
Many children around the country face real difficulties in class, in youth movements, in after-school activities. Most of them share what they are going through with us. Get involved, hug them, give them strength. Remind them what I told Agam today: we have got your backs, we are with you, and you are bigger than any cruelty.”