What's happened
Private schools in East Jerusalem, including Christian institutions, have begun a strike over Israeli restrictions on teacher permits and employment. The move affects around 20,000 students and 171 staff, amid ongoing tensions over permits, school closures, and policies targeting Palestinian education and UNRWA schools.
What's behind the headline?
The strike highlights Israel's broader strategy to undermine Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem, using permit restrictions and employment bans to weaken local education. These measures serve political aims of asserting control over the city, which Palestinians see as their future capital. The closures of UNRWA schools and restrictions on Palestinian teachers are part of a systematic effort to erode Palestinian presence and identity. This move will likely deepen tensions, provoke international criticism, and hinder the educational development of thousands of Palestinian children. The Israeli government’s actions are a calculated attempt to reshape the demographic and political landscape of East Jerusalem, with long-term implications for peace and stability in the region.
What the papers say
The New Arab reports that the strike affects around 20,000 students and 171 staff, describing the Israeli measures as 'arbitrary' and highlighting ongoing negotiations to restore full permit coverage. Al Jazeera emphasizes the broader political context, noting that the restrictions reflect deeper dismay with Israeli policies and systemic efforts to undermine Palestinian identity. The Times of Israel provides details on the specific permit exclusions and the historical context of East Jerusalem's annexation, also reporting on the closure of UNRWA schools and Israel's accusations against the agency. All sources agree that these measures are part of a wider pattern of control and suppression, with international concerns about the impact on Palestinian education and rights.
How we got here
The strike stems from Israeli measures limiting work permits for teachers from the West Bank and restricting employment of Palestinian teachers in East Jerusalem. These policies, including permit exclusions on Fridays and Sundays, aim to control Palestinian institutions but have disrupted education. Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem in 1967 and ongoing disputes over the city’s status underpin these tensions. Recent closures of UNRWA schools follow accusations of Hamas links, further escalating the conflict over Palestinian education in the area.
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East Jerusalem (Arabic: القدس الشرقية, romanized: al-Quds ash-Sharqiya; Hebrew: מִזְרַח יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, romanized: Mizraḥ Yerushalayim) is the portion of Jerusalem that was held by Jordan after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War,