Last update - 00:00 15/05/2007
University head: Breakthough in talks with students; strike to end soon
By Tamara Traubmann and Motti Katz, Haaretz Correspondent
Committee of University Heads (CUH) Chairman Professor Moshe Kaveh said Tuesday evening that a breakthrough had been reached in negotiations with students, who are expected to terminate their strike soon.
"A breakthrough has been made with the students, he said. "Studies will resume soon."
Professor Kaveh is also the president of Bar-Ilan University.
On Tuesday morning, Itai Shonshein, chairman of the National Students Union and student union representative Gal Dai, met with officials from the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting, which ended in the afternoon, produced a draft compromise between the two sides. Both student unions will vote on Wednesday on the drafted compromise.
On Monday, the students held a protest across from the Knesset. When the students attempted to cross the street, they were stopped by police forces, who later arrested 9 students.
The student protest's organizers maintain that around 2,000 students took part in the demonstration. In addition, the Knesset's Education Committee discussed the student strike on Tuesday.
Students have been on strike for over a month to protest the Shochat Committee on higher education reform, which is expected to recommend raising tuition.