The Knesset Education Committee will convene in an urgent session on Sunday in response to threats from the organization representing the nation’s universities, which is signaling the academic year will not open as scheduled unless an additional NIS 500 million is allocated to higher education.

In an earlier report (HERE), YWN explained that Prof. Menachem Magidor, speaking on behalf of the nation’s universities, warned the academic year cannot open until the national government comes to the realization that the universities are being crushed under the fiscal strain, explaining over recent years, their operating budget has been cut to a point where they are no longer capable of operating.

The head of the National Student Union has expressed support for the strike move, explaining the government must make higher education a greater priority in the state budget.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)