Israeli education strikes

Israeli schools and universities have been subject to repeated strikes over the years by faculty, and, occasionally, students.

2007 student strike

The 2007 Israeli student strike started in April 2007 in protest at the government decision to increase tuition fees [ [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/122362 Student and Teacher Strikes Continue, No End in Sight] Israel National News, 7 May 2007] and the failure to implement the 2001 Winograd Committee recommendation that they be reduced by 25%. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/829640.html Tamir, students union announce cancellation of university strike] Haaretz, 24 February 2007] Students have clashed with police, blocked roads and been arrested. [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1178198606198&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Education: Striking while the iron is hot] Jerusalem Post, 3 May 2007] [ [http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Briefs/11296.htm 18 student protesters arrested Wednesday] ] [ [http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2007/05/08israel.html The ‘red revolution’ for free education] ] After three weeks of strikes the presidents of the universities tried to break the strike with the threat that all students who failed to return to their studies on 8 May would have to retake the semester. The student leadership responded by intensifying the strike. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/855886.html Students threaten to step up strike, 'seal off' campuses] Haaretz, 6 May 2007 ] On 7 May students prevented the reopening of the universities by sealing off university entrances with chains. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/856570.html Protesting students bar Tel Aviv University with chains and barbed wire] Haaretz, 7 May 2007] Student leaders rejected a compromise proposal by the Israeli Prime Minister which would have exempted current students from the fee rises. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/856805.html Student leader: Compromise presented by PMO is 'humiliating'] ] Divisions amongst students have been reported in the Israeli media [ [http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3397140,00.html Ynet article] ] .Some students have started a hunger strike [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/857724.html Striking students set to expand protest against education reforms] ] .

Negotiations between the Students and the Israeli government have failed to end the strike, despite reported breakthroughs. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/860333.html Student union representatives: Strike to continue as planned] ]

The strike ended on May 14 after Student leaders narrowly agreed a compromise with the government which accepted the implementation of the controversial Shochat reforms. This agreement was unpopular with grass roots student activists. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/862569.html Universities to reopen today as 41-day strike ends] ]

"Haaretz" position

The "Haaretz" newspaper editorial denounced the strike, accusing the students leaders of having their own extreme agenda against capitalism, privatization, capitalists and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/855915.html Back to class] , Haaretz editorial]

After denouncing the students, the paper has published an article claiming that the student unions seem to have lost control of events and that it is its belief that "grassroots elements" are preventing a return to class while many of the student leaders would have been happy to end the strike and return to class. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/857279.html 'Emerging democracy' among students keeps strike alive] ] .

2007 teacher strike

Middle and secondary school teachers have been on strike for over a month and a half. Their demands include an 8.5% pay raise, reducing class sizes to a maximum of 30 students, and increasing the length of the school day. [ [http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=927022&contrassID=2&subContrassID=21 אולמרט: מקווה ששביתת שהמורים תסתיים עד סוף השבוע] ]

The senior faculty of the universities has been on strike since the opening of the 2007 autumn semester.The strike was ended in Mid December 2007 after the Jewish holiday of Hannukah.The school year, for all the schools who striked, has been extended until July 10, 2008.

References

ee also

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/activestills/sets/72157600132645350/ Photos of Protests]
* [http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3396791,00.html Students rejects PM's Offer (hebrew)]