During the course of the week, the attacks on Haifa continued, claiming human lives and causing considerable damage to property. The president of the Technion, Professor Yitzhak Apluig, says that the management decided to stop the institution's activities so as not to endanger the students, employees and academic staff
Migdal Eshkol at the University of Haifa. From Wikipedia
The management of the Technion decided on a gradual return to routine activity at the Technion. As of Sunday, July 23, 2006, the members of the academic and administrative staff are returning to work. At the Technion there are protected spaces and shelters designed for use in an emergency.
The exams and studies will not take place before Tuesday, July 25, 2006. They will be rescheduled after at least 48 hours' advance notice. This decision can change depending on the circumstances and the instructions of the competent authorities. Updates will be in the media and on the Technion's website.
The decision to stop the Technion's activities was made last Sunday, July 16, 2006, after the exams of 1,800 students were stopped immediately after they began, following the fall of rockets fired by Hezbollah, throughout Haifa. One of the rockets killed eight employees of the Israel Railways, while they were doing their work in the railway garage in the underground city. The dispersal of students and workers was done in an exemplary order.
During the course of the week, the attacks on Haifa continued, claiming human lives and causing considerable damage to property. The president of the Technion, Professor Yitzhak Apluig, said in interviews with the media that the Technion's management decided to stop the institution's activities so as not to endanger the students, employees and academic staff. The decision to return to activity was made in consultation with security officials and the decision on a new date for the exams will also be reviewed according to developments. Professor Apluig expressed his great appreciation to the working public and students for their understanding and cooperation. He expressed his hope that the routine will return soon and that the Technion will be able to concentrate on research and teaching again, and continue the development momentum it is in.
In a letter to the entire Technion house, President Afluig wrote: "The Technion is returning to activity today after a one-week forced hiatus following the murderous attacks by Hezbollah on Haifa. and the northern settlements of the State of Israel. Our return to work is important for strengthening national morale and I believe it also contributes to a good personal feeling for each of us. My fellow board members and I are convinced that this is the right step at this time. This is part of the struggle the country is in and we will stand by it.
"During the week that the Technion was closed, our security personnel checked all shelters and protected spaces on campus and prepared them for our return to work. There are certainly employees who have problems and difficulties arising from the war situation and they will receive a listening and understanding ear and personal care.
"From my many years of acquaintance with the Technion faculty: academic, administrative and technical, I have no doubt that together with mutual help and encouragement, we will meet the difficult challenge that the current war presents us."
Haifa University: The faculty members are returning, the students will only be back next Sunday
The following announcement was published on the Haifa University website: "The first working day after the decision to return to work at the university has ended (23/7/06). Most of the employees reported to work today and the university administration thanks each and every one of you.
During the day, as we know, alarm sirens were heard that forced us to interrupt our work routine and stay for a short time in shelters and protected areas. Following the fact that today's falls happened in the area, we checked again with the Home Front Command and the authorized officials. We were informed that there is no change in policy and assessments and therefore the decision on the gradual return to activity stands. In order to make it easier for the students, the university administration decided today that exams and activities for students will not resume before July 30. The students are asked to follow the updates on the website."
Aharon Ben-Zev, president of the University of Haifa, also wrote to the employees and students of the institution: "The state of war in which the state is facing has forced the university to switch to an emergency work mode. In the first week of the fighting, the university was closed. During these days, the management dealt with many issues that were on the agenda, such as security and safety issues, providing regular updates to you and my friends at the university in Israel and around the world, the continued existence of the studio for students abroad, summer semester, treatment of personal problems, and many other current issues."
"The management met and meets every day to assess the situation, provide solutions to urgent problems, and make decisions regarding future actions. Last Wednesday, after quite a few strikes and after many consultations with the security officials authorized by the Home Front Command, the Ministry of Education and the municipality, and after coordination with the Technion's management, we decided on a gradual return to work of the faculty members. The decision was not easy, but it marked our determination to gradually return to operating the university. The managers of the units received clear instructions to give maximum consideration to any personal problem and to be careful to fulfill the instructions of the security officials. We did this yesterday, on the first day back to work, and we will continue to do so in the coming days. Returning to a normal life routine, however complex it may be, is part of our dealing with the combat situation. "
"We very much hope that when there will be relative calm, we will be able to find solutions to the many problems related to our student population. We will do this with maximum sensitivity and consideration. "
"The war is a painful experience and it has already exacted an unbearable price from us. The late Yaniv Hershkowitz, the son of our friend Corina Hershkowitz, was killed in an IDF operation. The late Shimon Glickblich, father of Yulia, our social work student, was killed by a Katyusha hit in Haifa while driving his car. I send them and their families our condolences. "
"We did not want this war, as we do not want any other war. But at the root of the war is the aspiration of all of us to reach a stable and sustainable peace. Such a peace, the realization of which is still far away, will be able to reunify Israeli society and bind the State of Israel with thick ties of friendship to its neighbors. "
"Although it is currently a distant dream, we must not stop dreaming for a moment. Dreaming and keeping hope are the hallmarks of human behavior. I am sure that even in these dark and difficult hours, you can already see the light of tomorrow. "
"I thank each of you for your exemplary behavior during these difficult hours; Together we will get through this situation and together we will continue the construction and strengthening of our university. I am all hopeful that these difficult days will pass and that we are headed for a much longer and better period. "
