As an academic here in Australia, I'd expect my University to be involved in the political aspects of issues such as this, but I don't think being part of student protests (that invariably lead to violence and destruction) is the correct approach for staff. It weakens the second prong of protest (via academics) which is not available to students.

and institute of higher learning should be shut down under lock and key until such time as our politicians come to their senses and this nonsense stops.

for yeshivas and religious students-looks like anti-semitism unless all students lose funding --why not?

We're looking at 2 forms of state subsidy of lifestyle. Haredim want to be paid to study Torah in yeshivas and not work. And kibbutzniks want to be subsidized to maintain their socialist lifestyle of money losing, cash-crop agriculture that uses 60% of the country's water for 3% of the ecomony, that requires hoards of foreign workers that cause social problems to do the field work so kibbutz kids can go to Hebrew University (and protest) and not farm, that pays nothing for the scarce state land they use, and that operate at a loss, turning a "profit" for the crops they sell abroad only according to socialist voodoo economic theory. Are these not both forms of state sponsorship of lifestyles of differing types? With the costs piled onto the backs of Israeli taxpayers who are neither crackpot socialists nor haredi Torah scholars?

where is this unrest for shalit?

Why university students have to pay thousands, even after passing filters to be selected for the career they want? Why haredim can not only study for free, but also receive a subsidy for doing that, even if they don't want to study?

Important information that Ynet forgot.

Lots of snide remarks here but none to the point: Why should Yeshiva students receive subsidies while secular and traditional University students do not? That is the question! Never mind the fact that the Yeshiva students have not served in the IDF and the vast majority of the University students have done their bit to protect the nation.

Did you honestly think that you could keep on giving and giving to the Haredim and the seculars (students, work force) would keep quiet? tze tze tze. Silly man. Put your vanity aside for just a moment and do what is right for the people of this country and not what keeps you in office.

Over the years the Merkaz Yeshiva grew to become the number one extremist Zionist religious training camp in Palestine, where trainees are nursed on the ideology that Palestine was a gift from God and that it is their religious duty to drive away the inhabitants of the land in the manner “God” demanded. According to the Rabbi, this was the ONLY road to salvation and redemption. The Merkaz was seen by many as ‘God’s gift’ to the Zionist Movement because (after years of being shunned by Jewish religious sectors) finally came someone who interpreted Zionism to be the long-awaited messiah. Kook taught that the messiah is an entity that doesn’t necessary have to come in a human shape, meaning that it could be an idea.

I've read somewhere that kibbuts industry stands for 30 % of Israeli exports . Do they need subsidy ?

While I don't see the current practice of subsidizing all yeshiva studies it is not a white and black issue. Some kollel students have served in the army and many also only study for a short period of time before entering the work force. This is less true for the hareidim then for the national religious public, but it is still a valid point. The state does fund many higher studies that are not all that practical. Are yeshiva studies really less important than political science, history, literature or linguistics? There needs to be a middle ground. The big 5 universities are heavily subsidized by the tax payers and therefore the demand for some subsidy has a basis. In general there is not an adequate student loan program. I'm opposed to Gafni's proposal, but I also detect a fair amount of hypocrisy, especially with the university promoting political statements. BGU students can get expelled for wearing political t-shirts but are sent out on the street to 'support' the right causes.

If all these rabbies and their politicians can extract more and more money from our taxes to give it to haredim then why not our professors help students to protest. Students must get support from all over the Israel. Big portion of a Israeli population (haredim) is not contributing anything to it's people or country. On top of that they are extracting our money to help their personal needs (tora study and food) while the whole other portion is investing their time and hard work to earn the same. In 20 years near to 35% of our population will not only contribute nothing but will extract more and more with such lenient allowances. Stop it for once and also cancel all the previous arrangements.

In Belgium years ago,butter was subsided by the state ,so it could be exported at a concurrential price.Does it happen here too? Sometimes we have to give up certain things for the sake of something better.

SUCH HATE AGAINST THOSE WHO LEARN TORAH FULL TIME WILL ENDANGER THE PROTECTION OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL-IT IS A SAD MOMENT AND A BLINDNESS ON THE PART OF THE INTELLECTUAL ESTABLISHMENT THAT FAIL TO REALIZE ULTIMATE FUTURE OF ISRAEL RESTS ON TORAH OBSERVANCE.

...whenevr there is public demonstrations tires are burnt and people act like animals. After growing up in Africa this becomes a usual thing that can happen. However to see the same thing happening amongst the learned of our nation is completely disgraceful. There are more effective ways to protest

When Haredim burn Tires its a RIOT. When Students/Chilonim/Leftists burn Tires its a Demonstration.

I am truly sick and tired for paying for a community that acts as a complete burden to our society. I demand that Haredi Jews serve in the army, pay taxes like I do, and work to better to their life like every other human on this planet. Enough is enough and I cannot pay anymore. I work for my kids, not for Haredi Jews!