West Bank Religious School Faces Sudden Eviction Before New School Year
The principal of the "Chinuch BeEmunah" Talmud Torah in the Gush Etzion Regional Council area was shocked to find the school building emptied overnight just before the start of the new academic year. For months, the school and the council had been negotiating a permanent relocation to a new facility, but no practical alternative was ready. Despite this, the council unexpectedly cleared the premises during the night, removing all equipment without prior agreement.
The principal recounted that on the eve of the school year, he was told by the council's education department that the school could not open in its current location and would need to vacate. When he requested a suitable alternative, he was offered only a storage room, which he rejected as inappropriate for students. The next morning, arriving early, he found the school completely emptied, leaving students to begin classes in makeshift conditions, initially sitting on the floor and later moving to a nearby synagogue.
The school serves about 100 students, mainly from the national-religious community, combining Torah study with core curriculum and personalized attention. The principal expressed frustration with the council's approach, accusing it of using force rather than negotiation, despite previously good relations, including his personal support for the council head. He described the council's method as "to hit hard" to force compliance.
The Gush Etzion Regional Council rejected responsibility for finding a new building, stating that as a private institution, the school management is responsible. The council noted it had temporarily allocated space within a public school for the previous year and offered a four-dunam plot in one of the settlements, which the school declined. The council also said it had repeatedly requested the school to remove its equipment and had stored it securely after the school failed to respond. The council maintains it continues to assist in locating a suitable site for the upcoming school year.
