The 54-day-old teachers' strike was reported to be over Tuesday morning, but was back on by evening. Thursday, the first day back to school following the Chanukah holiday, could turn out to be anarchic, with many teachers saying they will refuse to obey the back-to-work orders issued by the Labor Court.
Early in the day Tuesday, media reports said the government and the Secondary School Teachers' Association (SSTA) had held their best meeting to date, and that they were on the verge of striking a deal. Education minister Yuli Tamir said she was "cautiously optimistic."
Erez backtracks
The evening newscast on Channel 2 TV also opened with the news of the strike's impending end, and the reporter explained that the teachers' union had basically caved in on all fronts and achieved nothing.
Teachers who were interviewed were unanimous in declaring the proposed agreement a failure, and some hinted they would rather look for alternative leadership than comply with the accord negotiated by their union.
SSTA leader Ran Erez then went on the air live and said the strike was not over, reversing his previous messages to the government and press. Erez sounded more resolute and strident after the segment showing reactions to the accord was aired, and observers said he had decided to backtrack after hearing and seeing the sharp criticism of the proposed accord voiced by teachers and students alike. Erez said the government wanted to give the teachers an 8.5 percent raise in three stages. "In that case, let them look for another client," he snapped. He later told the media: "we will not agree to sign an agreement that is bad for the teachers." 
Some teachers hinted they would rather look for alternative leadership than comply with the accord.
Late Tuesday evening, Erez reportedly had broken up negotiations, and news outlet Ynet went so far as to declare he had "disappeared," and that no one knew where he was.
'We were shocked'
Officials from Education and Finance Ministries kept waiting for Erez in the negotiations room, in the hope he would return. "We are in a state of complete shock," said one of the negotiators. "Throughout the day we were certain that an agreement would be signed today and if not tonight then tomorrow morning. It is really too bad that this is how this man [Erez - ed.] behaves," the negotiator said.
Wednesday afternoon, Erez resumed negotiations with the government representatives in a last-minute effort to reach a work agreement before the back-to-work order by the Labor Court goes into effect.
The accord that was on the verge of being signed reportedly included a 7.5% pay increase for the teachers, most of which they would have received in any case, as part of the general wage hike in the public sector. The vaunted reform of the education system would have been shelved indefinitely and NIS 1.5 billion would have been invested in reducing the number of students per class.
According to the court orders, teachers must return to work Thursday. However, many teachers have threatened to defy the court orders and not return work.