Jerusalem Schools Suspend Classes Over Teacher Permit Denials

Private and public schools in East Jerusalem announced on Tuesday the suspension of classes until further notice, protesting the Israeli authorities' failure to renew entry permits for numerous teachers and staff from the West Bank. School administrations stated that the decision followed a "sudden and unannounced" refusal to renew permits for teachers and support staff, preventing them from reaching their schools and disrupting the start of the academic year. They also cited incomplete preparations in areas like sanitation, health, and safety, making it difficult to open the year in a secure environment. The school administrations consulted with relevant parties and parent representatives before making the decision, emphasizing their goal to ensure student safety and their right to education under suitable conditions. Classes will resume once all necessary permits are reissued and renewed without exception. This is not the first time permit restrictions have disrupted schooling in Jerusalem; last year, similar issues led to a week-long suspension affecting approximately 20,000 students. School officials then viewed the restrictions as a threat to the continuity of Palestinian educational institutions in the city. In a separate development, the Jerusalem Governorate warned of the impending implementation of an Israeli curriculum starting Tuesday for over 45,000 Palestinian students in the first and seventh grades in schools affiliated with the Jerusalem Municipality. The Governorate described this as an attempt to alter educational content and undermine Palestinian identity and national narrative, urging international and human rights organizations to intervene against these perceived violations. These permit issues and curriculum disputes occur amid ongoing tensions surrounding the future of Palestinian schools in Jerusalem, their oversight, and their educational content.