For the first time in years, studies at the higher education institutions began Sunday with no strike on the horizon. The rare event was noted by prof. Manuel Trajtenberg, the head of the Higher Education Council's Committee for Planning and Budgets (known by its Hebrew acronym Vatat).

"This is a festive day for higher education, in that the academic year began without threats and strikes – something that has not happened in recent years,” Trajtenberg told the government ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting in a joint presentation with Education Minister Gidon Saar. “Marking the start of the academic year with a government discussion symbolizes the right track in my view,” he added.