Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., October 29, 2008 Tishrei 30, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:06 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Peres Center Travel Week's End Anglo File

Olmert promises to intervene to let academic year begin Sunday By Ofri Ilani Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised yesterday to intervene in order to guarantee the academic year starts on schedule next Sunday. "We have no natural resources, except for one central resource - human resources," said Olmert, speaking at the first meeting of the Knesset winter session. "Therefore, in the next few days I will solve the crisis in higher education, and enable the school year to begin on schedule." Advertisement University heads have been threatening a strike, claiming they do not have the budgets to begin the school year. This was Olmert's first public statement on higher education in months. He has not taken a clear stance on the issue of higher education funding, but has supported the Finance Ministry's demands for reforms as a condition to restoring budget cuts. Olmert told Haaretz a few months ago, "Changes are needed in the higher education system." Treasury officials met yesterday morning with Council of Higher Education representatives to discuss university budgets, after more than a week without talks. Both parties said the disagreements have narrowed, and expressed cautious optimism that an agreement could be reached to allow the academic year to begin on time. Over the past five years, university budgets have been cut by about 20 percent, and 800 permanent jobs were cut - equivalent to the workforce of one whole university. The two sides have spent the past few months battling over demands to restore the cuts. The universities claim that the treasury has been hanging them out to dry for years, and that academic education and research in Israel is on the verge of collapse. The main points of dispute are the treasury's demands that the funds be earmarked for specific purposes, as per the Shochat Committee recommendations. The CHE views these demands as an attack on academic freedom and independence. In addition, the CHE says the two sides still face a NIS 120 million difference of opinions. University heads and students held a protest convoy yesterday on the highway from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, causing major traffic jams. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Livni ahead in polls Netanyahu loses lead he has held for two years, while Labor heads for election debacle. The frozen chosen In staunchly Republican Alaska, a Jewish Democrat may take state's lone seat in Congress.

Read & React Sources: Sarkozy views Obama stance on Iran as 'utterly immature' Responses: 117 Moshe Arens: It's the IDF, not the security fence that stops terror Responses: 39 Yoel Marcus: Tzipi Livni deserves to win Responses: 45 U.S. agents foil neo-Nazi plot to assassinate Obama Responses: 140 Israeli ambassador meets Palin, as Republicans rally for Virginia Responses: 60 More Headlines 00:52 Joe the Plumber: A vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel 23:21 Syria demands UN action against U.S. over raid 20:18 Witness in Hirchson graft case: I handed Olmert a fat envelope 23:04 IAEA: Samples from alleged Syria nuke site justify further probe 23:56 Jewish Arab aide to Moroccan king urges Israel to adopt Saudi peace plan 21:51 Palestinian student campaigns for Obama from Gaza refugee camp 23:17 Legendary singers gather in Tel Aviv to celebrate Peres Center 23:28 General elections to be held in Israel by middle of February 22:46 Ex-Meretz chairman Beilin announces he's retiring from politics 15:38 Peres: Israel is closer to peace than ever before 22:49 Biden voices 'unshakable commitment' to strong Israel-U.S. ties 14:10 A chance to yell at Yossi Beilin 13:24 Saudi luxury car sales seen rising despite global crisis 12:02 PLAY THE NEWS / Can you beat OPEC at its own game? Previous Editions Select Day 28 oct 27 oct 26 oct 24 oct 23 oct 22 oct 21 oct 20 oct 19 oct 17 oct 16 oct 15 oct

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved