The Irgun HaMorim, one of Israel\'s two main teachers\' associations, has announced that it will protest the Education Ministry\'s decision to fire 1,500 teachers by the end of the month. Irgun Chairman Ran Erez said that \"parents and teachers will form a united front to fight this move, which will hurt both teachers and students.\" MK Zevulun Orlev (NRP), chairman of the Knesset Education Committee, was also sharply critical of the Ministry\'s decision, which he acknowledged was forced by the government\'s recent budget cuts.