The Galilee is falling apart - Peres
צילום: תומריקו
New university to open in Galilee
Israeli businessman donates USD 100 million to build new university in Galilee, the largest donation ever by a single individual
JERUSALEM - Despite student protests and nation-wide strikes, Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Education Minister Limor Livnat and Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced Monday their plan to establish a new university in the northern Galilee town of Karmiel.
At present, there are six colleges and more than 20,000 students studying in the region.
According to the plan, initiated by Peres who also oversees Negev and Galilee development, the new university will incorporate the already-existing colleges, as well as open a main campus in Karmiel to be used as the administrative and academic center for the area.
Largest private donation ever
During a press conference at the Knesset, it was revealed that Israeli businessman Arnon Milchan will donate USD 100 million to advance the project, the largest amount of money ever donated by a private individual in Israel.
"I discovered that the most appropriate and correct thing to do, which everyone agrees, would be to promote education in Israel," he said. "As an Israeli I'm proud of my ability to donate such a large amount to my country."
He said Netanyahu has also pledged to also help finance the project and added that he plans to pay the lecturers high salaries compared to the rest of the world.
"I will head the university's foundation," he said. "Therefore, it's not like a donation from an American Jew who just hands over a fat check and leaves, I'll stay here and manage it."
'The Galilee is falling apart'
He said the timing for the university's establishment is not coincidental, as actions not words are needed during the coming year before the next elections.
"I want the U.S. and the world to see that Jews and Arabs can study together, play in a national (sports) team and not just fight," he said.
Peres praised Milchan for his donation and said the establishment of the new university is in no way connected to the current university crisis.
"Besides the universities, the Galilee is also falling apart and this cannot be postponed," he said. "Ben Gurion University in the Negev contributed so much to the development of the Negev, so I believe the university in the Galilee will help develop the Galilee."
Netanyahu also thanked Milchan and said his donation and pledge to continue his help is a "pure Zionist act", while Livnat praised Peres's role in initiating the project.
"Peres was appointed minister in charge of developing the Galilee only a few months ago and we can already see results," she said.
She added that while the government is not authorized to approve the new university, she would recommend it to the council for higher education, which has jurisdiction to decide.
