JERUSALEM, August 31, 2026 (WAFA) – All Christian schools in Jerusalem announced on Monday that they would suspend classes on September 1 in protest over Israel’s refusal to renew entry permits for over 70 teachers and staff from the West Bank, affecting over 8,500 students.
“As our schools prepare for the opening of the new 2026–2027 academic year, we were unfortunately surprised, once again, by the non-renewal of entry permits for more than 70 teachers and employees from our educational, administrative, and support staff. This occurred suddenly and without prior notice, preventing them from reaching their schools and directly affecting the schools’ readiness for the opening of the academic year,” the General Secretariat for Christian Educational Institutions in Jerusalem said in a press statement.
It noted that “the absence of this large number of staff members affects various aspects of school operations, including educational, administrative, and health services, in addition to cleaning services and security and safety procedures. This makes it impossible to guarantee a safe and stable start for our students.
“Accordingly, following consultation and coordination with the relevant authorities, representatives of parents, and Jerusalem schools, it has been decided to suspend school attendance in the schools of the city of Jerusalem beginning Tuesday morning, 1 September 2026, until the necessary permits for teachers and staff are reissued and renewed, thereby ensuring that the educational process can proceed safely and properly.”
While reaffirming the Christian schools’ full commitment to their students’ right to education, the General Secretariat for Christian Educational Institutions in Jerusalem emphasized the importance of the educational mission carried by such 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.”
It affirmed that “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.”
It expressed 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.”
K.F.
