157 Unsupervised Educational Institutions in East Jerusalem's Kafr Aqab Continue Receiving Funding

The Israeli Ministry of Education revealed that 157 educational institutions in Kafr Aqab, a neighborhood in East Jerusalem, operate without supervision due to security threats but still receive government funding. This includes 129 kindergartens and 28 schools. The information was disclosed during a discussion in the Knesset's Education, Culture, and Sports Committee, which focused on preventing violence and crime in Arab society and East Jerusalem's education system.

Deputy Director of the Ministry's Enforcement and Supervision Division, Fares Tawil, explained that while supervision occurs in other neighborhoods, inspectors have not entered Kafr Aqab since early 2026 because of threats to their safety. Tawil described the situation as exceptional and said that only pedagogical supervision is currently possible. Despite the lack of oversight, the institutions continue to receive funding from the Ministry of Education.

Committee Chairman MK Tzvi Sukkot responded by stating his intention to examine the continuation of funding for institutions where the Ministry cannot conduct proper supervision. He emphasized the state's loss of control over these educational facilities in Kafr Aqab, calling it the most sensitive area in Israel regarding this issue.