Public religious schools in the city of Petach Tikva continued striking for a third day on Thursday.  Over 2,500 students in four schools stayed home.  The schools are protesting what they say is unequal distribution of funding in light of the fact that only the public religious schools are absorbing new immigrants from Ethiopia.  Teachers say the immigrants require more resources than other students. 

Teachers and parents said the current situation is not fair to the immigrants, who do not receive sufficient resources due to budget restrictions.  If private and hareidi-religious schools are to continue receiving the same funding as public religious schools, they should begin taking a more active role in absorbing new immigrants, school officials say.  Otherwise, they say, public schools should receive a greater share of the budget in order to provide the immigrants with the necessary services without compromising on the education provided to the rest of their students.