Jerusalem Christian Schools Suspend Classes Over Teacher Permits

Jerusalem, MINA – All Christian schools in Jerusalem announced Monday evening that they will suspend classes starting Tuesday after Israel failed to renew entry permits for more than 70 teachers and staff, preventing them from reaching their schools, Anadolu Agency reports.

The new academic year in Israel and Jerusalem is scheduled to begin Tuesday. In a statement, the Christian schools said they were surprised by the “failure to renew entry permits for more than 70 teachers and employees from our educational, administrative and support staff, suddenly and without prior warning.”

The failure to renew the permits prevented the teachers and employees from reaching their schools and directly affected preparations for the start of the academic year. The absence of such a large number of staff affects various aspects of school operations, including educational, administrative, health services, cleaning, and security measures.

The schools said the situation “makes it impossible to ensure a safe and stable start” to the academic year. Following consultations with relevant parties, parents’ representatives, and Jerusalem schools, they decided to suspend classes beginning Tuesday, September 1. The suspension will continue “until the necessary permits for teachers and employees are reissued and renewed, ensuring that the educational process proceeds safely and properly.”

Read Also: Israeli War in Gaza Kill 11,900 Palestinian Women

The schools stressed their commitment to students’ right to education, warning that repeated measures “undermine the stability of our schools and hinder their ability to fulfill their mission,” while negatively affecting students, families, and educational staff. They called for the crisis to be resolved and permits renewed.

Separately, Munther Isaac, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, condemned the measure, saying on X: “Israel’s pressure on the Christian presence in Jerusalem continues. Christian schools in the city are going on strike because Israel refuses to issue permits to their West Bank teachers.”

Since October 2023, Israel has restricted entry permits for Palestinian workers from the occupied West Bank, including teachers, coinciding with the start of the war in Gaza.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

Read Also: Israeli Army Tightens Gaza Blockade With Trench and Embankment Along Yellow Line