E/CN.4/1992/52 page 106 6. The basic approach of the State of Israel towards the education of its young people reflects the fundamental principle of equal opportunity and protection for believers of all faiths and non-believers alike. According to the Compulsory Education Law 5709-1949 (L.S.I, vol. 3, p. 125) as amended, free compulsory education is provided for all children and adolescents in Israel from age 5 to 15 (from kindergarten to the tenth grade). Free education is equally provided up to the twelfth grade for those who are interested, although it is not compulsory. As provided by the State Education Law 5713-1953 (L.S.I, vol. 7, p. 113) there are State educational institutions and Religious State educational institutions. The Minister of Education prescribes the curriculum of every official educational institution. In the non-Jewish educational institutions, the curriculum is adapted to the special conditions therein. Parents in Israel have the freedom to choose which institution their children shall attend. In addition, in religious State schools, where religious lessons are given, a pupil not belonging to the religion taught, may either take a lesson in the religion of his belief or not attend the class at that time. 7. The Israeli commitment to equal protection of persons of all faiths is manifested in the State's policies regarding the holy places. The State of Israel is acutely aware of the special place the holy places situated in Israel hold in the hearts of believers of many faiths. The Knesset has decreed that the holy places shall be protected from desecration and from any attempts to violate the guarantee of free access to them. The Protection of Holy Places Law, 5727-1967 (L.S.I, vol. 34, p. 209) provides the following: '(a) The holy places shall be protected from desecration and any other violation and from anything likely to violate the freedom of access of the members of the different religions to the places sacred to them or their feelings with regard to those places. (b) . Whoever desecrates or otherwise violates a holy place shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of seven years. Whoever does anything likely to violate the freedom of access of members of the different religions to the places sacred to them ... shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of five years.' 8. The Basic Law: Jerusalem, capital of Israel (L.S.I, vol. 34, p. 209) reiterates and emphasizes the rights of free access of members of the different religions to the holy places and the prohibition against their desecration." Luxembourg "Believers of all denominations and non-believers enjoy the same protection."