Tel Aviv: An unofficial strike by Israeli teachers over a pay cut has resulted in the closure of hundreds of schools and kindergartens in central Israel. The strike has left educational institutions shuttered for the third consecutive day as teachers protest against a recent agreement on salary reductions.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Teachers Union reached an agreement with the Finance Ministry to set the pay cut at 0.95% instead of the initially proposed 3.3%. This agreement will be effective from May until the end of December 2025. Despite the reduced pay cut, the deal has sparked outrage among teachers, leading to widespread absenteeism under the guise of calling in sick.

The teachers are dissatisfied with the concessions made by the union's leader, Yaffa Ben David, during negotiations with the Finance Ministry. This dissatisfaction has led to over 400 schools and kindergartens remaining closed as the protest continues across central Israel.

The Education Ministry has responded by instructing district administrators to call in those accused of inciting teachers to engage in illegal activity for a hearing. The Ministry has also accused "political figures" of joining the teachers' protest, further complicating the situation.

According to estimates from the Education Ministry, between 17,000 and 20,000 teachers, representing approximately 10% of Israel's teaching workforce, have reported themselves as sick on Monday, indicating the scale and impact of the ongoing protest.