Palestinian foreign ministry calls for international action over East Jerusalem school restrictions

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday called for international action over Israeli restrictions affecting Palestinian educational institutions in East Jerusalem, including measures preventing some teachers from reaching their schools.

The statement coincided with a strike by several private schools in East Jerusalem, including Christian schools, at the start of the academic year. The schools were protesting Israeli authorities’ refusal to issue entry permits to teachers who live in the occupied West Bank and work in East Jerusalem.

The ministry said the restrictions had prevented teachers and other school staff from reaching their workplaces, disrupting classes at the beginning of the academic year.

It described the measures as a violation of Palestinian students’ right to education and accused Israel of placing increasing pressure on Palestinian educational institutions in East Jerusalem.

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The ministry also criticized Israeli efforts to introduce the Israeli curriculum in Palestinian schools, arguing that control over curricula and educational content threatens Palestinian students’ ability to learn about their history, culture and national identity.

It further condemned Israeli measures targeting facilities belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry reiterated its position that East Jerusalem constitutes occupied Palestinian territory and said Israeli measures intended to alter the city’s legal, demographic, cultural or religious character have no legal validity.

The ministry called on the United Nations and the international community to move beyond statements of condemnation and take what it described as concrete measures to ensure teachers can reach their schools and protect Palestinian educational institutions.

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