RAMALLAH, August 4, 2012 (WAFA) –Birzeit University (BZU) warned Saturday that the summer semester might be cancelled if the student strike continues.

BZU Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs Adel Zagha told Voice of Palestine radio that while the administration was still trying to resolve the conflict with the students, unless the strike ends by Monday there is a good chance the summer semester will be cancelled.

Students have closed off the campus last week to protest a decision to raise tuition fees.

The university said it was facing a severe financial crisis mainly due to shortage of funds from the Palestinian Authority and therefore it was raising tuition to make up for over $8 million deficit.

A statement by BZU’s board said that if a solution was not reached by Monday, the second summer semester will not be completed.

M.H./M.S.