Two university officials have called to cancel public celebrations of Israel’s 60th Independence Day. Sapir College head Professor Zeev Tzahor and Dr. Ron Avni of Ben Gurion University say the public celebrations will cost NIS 100 million. They are calling on the government to use the money for social projects instead.
The two say thousands have signed a petition supporting their initiative that they plan to send to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Minister Ruhama Avraham. Opponents of the initiative say the celebrations will pay for themselves by increasing tourism, leading to increased tax revenues.