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Hundreds of students block Knesset in protest over university funding By Ofri Ilani Tags: Israel News, universities Hundreds of university students and lecturers yesterday blocked the entrance to the Knesset after another meeting broke down between university representatives and government officials. One group of students tried to break into the Knesset compound. The meetings have been going on since Monday, when college students, teachers and university officials assembled a convoy of vehicles on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, blocking the road intermittently and creating traffic jams. The protesters are demanding that the Finance Ministry release education funds that have been held up in negotiations. The talks are expected to resume today, with Finance Minister Roni Bar-On meeting the negotiation panel representing the university heads. Advertisement The lecturers say that without additional funds, they are unable to begin the academic year. They cite the slashing of some 20 percent of the universities' budgets over the past five years. During that time, they add, the student body has grown in numbers and research costs have only increased. Education Minister Yuli Tamir yesterday said that it would be a disaster for higher education if the school year does not open as scheduled. She added that although talks with the treasury and education officials have been going on since April, the Finance Ministry has been "dragging its feet," as she put it at an emergency Knesset discussion yesterday morning about the impending crisis over the opening of the university school year. Treasury officials say the Finance Ministry is prepared to transfer NIS 300 million for higher education, provided the funds be allotted according to pre-set criteria in accordance with the recommendations of the Shochat Committee on higher education. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Interview with a killer Yigal Amir describes how the idea to assassinate Yitzhak Rabin came about. Absentees for McCain Exit poll reveals U.S. absentee voters in Israel back McCain over Obama by 3-1.   1.   Students blocking Knesset 13:12  |  Daniel Feigelson 30/10/08

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