While children around the world go back to school, 8,500 students in East Jerusalem have been affected by the Israeli decision not to renew teachers' permits.
All Christian schools in Jerusalem have closed in protest at an Israeli decision to refuse to renew permits for over 70 teachers and school staff members from the occupied West Bank to enter, leaving over 8,500 students affected.
The suspension of classes was announced in a statement late on Sunday by the General Secretariat for Christian Educational Institutions in Jerusalem.
“As our schools prepare for the opening of the new 2026–2027 academic year, we were unfortunately surprised, once again, by the non-renewal of entry permits for more than 70 teachers and employees from our educational, administrative, and support staff,” the statement read.
“This occurred suddenly and without prior notice, preventing them from reaching their schools and directly affecting the schools’ readiness for the opening of the academic year,” the statement continued.
The statement added that the schools were unable to guarantee a safe and functioning start of the school year due to imperative staff, such as those working in administration roles and health and safety services as well as education being unable to get to the school.
The suspension of the schools started on Tuesday and will continue “until the necessary permits for teachers and staff are reissued and renewed,” the statement emphasised.
It further condemned what it said was the reoccurrence of measures which undermine the stability and continuity of schools and havenegative consequences on students, their families and society as a whole.
The Israeli decision to not renew the staff’s permits has triggered widespread condemnation from activists and the Palestinian Christian community.
Palestinian Christian pastor Munther Isaac said on X: “Israel’s pressure on the Christian presence in Jerusalem continues”.
Armenian schools, including the Sts. Tarkmanchatz School in Jerusalem's Armenian Quarter are taking part in the suspension of classes.
he latest development comes after the former UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian Territories, Michael Lynk, said that the targeting of Christians in Palestine was directly linked to the fact that they are Palestinians.
Lynk noted there was a rise in attacks on Christians in Jerusalem, including an assault on a nun, while settlers have also attacked churches in recent years.
Amid the disruption to Palestinian Christian schools, around 45,000 students in east Jerusalem are beginning their first or seventh grade while being required to study the Israeli curriculum.
The affected students are those who attend the 105 schools run by Israel in east Jerusalem.
Since 2018, the Israeli government has given incentives, such as more funding, for schools that adopt its curriculum, *Haaretz *reported.
The move has prompted concerns that Israeli authorities are trying to erase Palestinian identity, narratives and history.
Jerusalem governorate spokesperson, Maarouf al-Rifai, said the measure was a “dangerous and unprecedented escalation since 1967” and an attempt to exert Israeli control and narratives in the Palestinian education system.
Schools in east Jerusalem have long educated students using the Jordanian curriculum, and schools operated by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank are teaching a curriculum approved by the Palestinian Ministry of Education.
