Israeli students protest over fees

Tel Aviv. Thousands of Israeli students locked the gates of their universities and took to the streets in a wave of demonstrations this week, demanding that the government halve tuition fees from 10,000 shekels (Pounds 1,500) a year to 5,000 shekels (Pounds 750).

Although many Israeli students work part-time to support their studies, they are increasingly finding the fees too steep.

There were violent clashes with police and border police in cities all over the country. Of the 175,000 striking students, more than 173 were arrested at Tel Aviv University, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Haifa University, the Technion and Ben Gurion University in the Negev.

The protesting students complained that their freedom of expression was under threat and accused police in Jerusalem of using excessive force to prevent Hebrew University students from blocking the road outside Hadassah University Hospital, in northern Jerusalem.

Lior Rotbart, leader of the National Union of Israeli Students, said: "We will not let this policy of silencing voices continue."

Mr Rotbart was arrested along with Ronen Hershkowitz, spokesman of the National Union of Israeli Students, and Erez Eshel, head of Tel Aviv University student union. The daily Ha'aretz reported that the judge of his case noted that "the police demonstrated worthy sensitivity and suitable awareness of the value of freedom of expression and association".

The protests culminated in a large student demonstration outside the Knesset (parliament).

Treasury officials oppose any change to the 1997 Maltz Committee Agreement, which set tuition rates until 2001. But education minister Yitzhak Levy, of the National Religious Party, said he supported the idea of a bargaining committee. He said: "Economic and social reality have changed, (making it) necessary to establish a new committee that will take into account the changes in the Israeli economy in the past two years."