Arab schools in most parts of Israel were closed today in a strike called by the National Committee of Arab Mayors to protest delays by the Israeli authorities in allocating government funds for the construction of new classrooms. A last-minute promise by Education Minister Zevulun Hammer to Improve conditions in the Arab schools failed to prevent the shutdown.
Education Ministry officials conceded today that the physical conditions in many Arab schools were much worse than in Jewish schools but attributed it to the fiscal crunch. They said special funds were earmarked to improve the Arab school system but were held up because of the general austerity imposed by the Treasury.
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