FILE - In this Tuesday, May 26, 2015 file photo, Arab Israeli Christian school children play soccer at the Terra Santa School in the mixed Jewish-Arab city of Ramle. Israel’s Education Ministry says it has reached a settlement to end a nearly month-long strike by the nation’s Christian schools. The Christian schools have been on strike since the school year began on Sept. 1 to protest cuts in government funding. Christian leaders have said the cuts amounted to discrimination. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty, File) (The Associated Press)
JERUSALEM – Israel's Education Ministry says it has reached a settlement to end a nearly monthlong strike by the nation's Christian schools.
The Christian schools have been on strike since the school year began on Sept. 1 to protest cuts in government funding. Christian leaders have said the cuts amounted to discrimination.
Under Sunday's settlement, the Education Ministry said it would cancel the budget cuts and allocate a one-time payment of roughly $12.5 million to the Christian community in Israel. In addition, the ministry and Christian schools agreed to form a committee to resolve any remaining areas of disagreement by next March.
Christians make up about 2 percent of Israel's population. Some 33,000 students in 47 schools had been on strike. They are to return to school on Monday.
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