Israeli lecturers' contracts are safe - for now

Academic staff employment conditions would not be changed unilaterally by the Schochat Committee for higher education reform, according to an agreement signed between representatives of academic lecturers and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Finance Minister Avraham Hirchson and Education Minister Youli Tamir Tuesday overnight. The agreement stipulates that any changes in the employment conditions of lecturers would be the outcome of negotiations involving lecturers' representatives. Meanwhile, students continue their strike throughout the country.