Christian schools in Jerusalem have suspended classes after education bodies allege Israel did not renew work permits of more than 70 staff who live in the West Bank.
The new academic year was due to begin on Tuesday, but the schools will not open until teachers and support staff are reissued with permits, according to the General Secretariat for Christian Schools in Jerusalem (GSCS).
The Israeli Defence Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories has rejected this, telling The Times of Israel that those entitled to permits have been given security clearance.
Last September, a week-long strike by the GSCS forced authorities to resolve issues with 171 teachers not having received the necessary permissions in time.
A statement from GSCS, part of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said the decision “occurred suddenly and without prior notice” and affected the schools’ preparation for the new year.
It continued: “While we reaffirm our full commitment to our students’ right to education, we also emphasize the importance of the educational mission carried by our schools, which constitutes an essential part of our identity, culture, and presence in the city of Jerusalem, raising generations founded on knowledge, values, belonging, and responsibility. It is a mission that carries a message and nurtures a culture of just peace.
“The recurrence of such measures undermines the stability of our schools, hinders their ability to fulfill their mission, and negatively affects students, their families, educational staff, and society as a whole.
“We pray and hope that this crisis will be resolved as quickly as possible, that such measures will cease and not recur in the future, thereby preserving the stability of our educational institutions, guaranteeing students’ right to regular and safe education, and enabling our schools to continue their educational and humanitarian mission.”
Dozens of private schools in East Jerusalem are also on strike, meaning around 15,000 students in the area are affected.
In January, the Knesset approved a law banning teachers with degrees linked to the Palestinian Authority from teaching in the Israeli school system, although an exemption was made for staff already employed. The move was opposed by the CSCS and Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, warning that it would jeopardise the schools and their Christian mission.
Residents in the West Bank have to obtain special permits from Israel to enter East Jerusalem, including for work, worship, education and healthcare.