Menachem Magidor. Frustrated.
Photo: Pierre Turgeman
Israeli universities still in danger of strike
Despite negotiated agreement to transfer more funds to higher education, letter from Hebrew University president indicates money not transferred, universities may be forced to close
The 2008-09 school year began as planned for Israeli universities, following Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's
intervention in negotiations between representatives of the academia and of the Finance Ministry that led to an apparent agreement between the two sides.
Unfortunately, according to a letter sent to senior lecturers Sunday by Hebrew University President Menachem Magidor, it seems that the agreement is not worth the paper it's printed on: In practice, the Finance Ministry has transferred neither the NIS 465 million (approximately $122 million) general budget addition or the additional NIS 50 million in government funds ($13 million) earmarked for university development, both of which were promised to universities as per the negotiated agreement.
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In his letter, Magidor, along with the university rector, threaten to close down the university unless the funds are transferred as planned. "It pains us to rain on the parade, but the fearful possibility of closing the universities still hands over our heads, in a real and immediate manner," they wrote.
"We started the school year as planned and, despite the caution and reservations of many, it was impossible not to feel everyone's joy that the academic year had begun."
"However, from a budgetary perspective and in terms of our ability to function, the past two weeks have merely worsened the situation," the letter read.
'Finance Ministry delaying transfer of funds'
"Despite the promises of the prime minister, the funds that will allow us to provide a reasonable level of instruction remain unseen. The Finance Ministry is delaying their transfer and, in numerous ways, indicates its intentions not to transfer them at all."Funds that the Finance Ministry had committed to transferring in the past have also not been transferred and, with each passing day, we are reaching the point at which the university will not be able to continue to function," Magidor added in the letter.
"The Finance Ministry is probably counting on our fatigue and that of the publics, but despite our fatigue, we have no other choice," the letter concludes.
It is safe to assume that Megidor's words reflect those of other university presidents, as he also serves as the chairman of the University Presidents' Committee.
A member of the Planning and Budget Committee for Higher Education confirmed to Ynet that "in the last week and a half, we've been trying to arrange a meeting with the budgetary division in the Finance Ministry in order to implement the agreement that was negotiated by the prime minister."
"Sadly," the committee member said, "the division is behaving with such sluggishness that we fear it is trying to avoid its responsibility for implementing the agreement."
The Finance Ministry said in response, "We will act in accordance with the agreement negotiated by the prime minister and respect the conditions of this agreement."
