About 250 university students arrived Wednesday morning at the regular Shochat Committee on Reform in Higher Education meeting, only to find that committee members were holding the meeting at an undisclosed location, after getting wind of the students’ expected protest.
Students protest outside university (Photo: Ofer Amram)
The students broke into the offices of the Open University in north Tel Aviv, carrying signs that said “Olmert Resign” and “Soon we’ll make up degrees like Tartman too”. The students began a strike Tuesday protesting the committee’s supposed intention to raise tuition fees.
The deputy chairman of the National Students Association was injured during the demonstration, while attempting to enter the university compound. In addition, three students were arrested, including chairman of the Tel Aviv University Student Union.
Later on in the day, students flocked to a major intersection near the university, playing children’s games, waving flags, and blocking traffic.
“Until Prime Minister Ehud Olmert meets with the students, we will shake up the entire country, block roads, protest in the streets, and strike until further notice,” said National Students Association Chairman Itai Shonshine.
“Olmert, we only have one small request – resign. Olmert, you keep hurting the education system, and we’ll hurt you politically,” warned College Students’ Association Chairman Itai Barda.
The students assured Olmert that they “meant business” this time.
A Shochat Committee spokesman said, “In order to remove any doubt, the Shochat committee convened today, as usual, just in a different place.”
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