East Jerusalem Schools Halt New Term Over Israeli Restrictions on Teachers

Private schools in East Jerusalem are putting the new school year on hold after dozens of Palestinian teachers from the West Bank were left without renewed permits to enter the city.

The schools announced that classes would stop “until further notice” from the scheduled start of the academic year. The Jerusalem Governorate, an institution of the Palestinian Authority that is responsible for the city but has no authority in Jerusalem, said the decision followed what it called a sudden refusal by Israeli authorities to renew permits for a large number of teachers and support staff.

About 70 Palestinian teachers living in the West Bank have not yet received permission to reach Jerusalem, according to a governorate official. The restriction has hit Christian schools especially hard because a high proportion of their teachers come from the West Bank. Between 250 and 300 West Bank teachers work in Jerusalem schools overall, the official said.

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The decision was taken because of the sudden and unexpected refusal by the Israeli occupation authorities to renew entry permits for a large number of teachers and support staff.

Access from the West Bank to Jerusalem requires permits issued by Israeli authorities. The process became more restricted after the October 7, 2023 attacks by Gaza-based militias. Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967 and annexed it in 1980, while Palestinians regard the area as the Palestinian part of the city.

The governorate said classes would restart immediately after permits for all teachers and staff were reissued or renewed without exception.

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Classes would resume immediately after the reissuance and renewal of all permits for teachers and staff without exception.