RismadarVoice Reporters
September 1, 2026
Private and Christian schools in occupied East Jerusalem have begun an open-ended teachers’ strike following disputes over curriculum policies and restrictions affecting the movement of Palestinian educators from the West Bank.
The strike started as the new academic year opened on Tuesday, with school authorities protesting what they described as interference in educational affairs and the non-renewal of entry permits for several teachers and staff members.
Reports said Israeli authorities directed all new first and seventh-grade classes in Palestinian-majority municipal schools in East Jerusalem to use the Israeli curriculum exclusively during the new academic year.
The move has increased concerns among Palestinian education officials, who said the change could affect the use of the Palestinian curriculum in schools across the city.
According to school representatives, more than 70 teachers and employees from educational, administrative and support departments were affected after their permits to enter East Jerusalem were not renewed, creating staffing challenges ahead of the school reopening.
The General Secretariat for Christian Educational Institutions in Jerusalem said the permit restrictions disrupted preparations for the academic year and affected the ability of schools to provide stable learning conditions for students.
School officials said the restrictions came despite earlier assurances that permits for teaching and administrative staff would be renewed.
The dispute has also highlighted broader tensions over education policies in East Jerusalem, where Palestinian schools have faced increasing pressure over curriculum requirements, staffing regulations and access to funding.
Education representatives said the changes could affect the cultural and educational identity of Palestinian schools, while Israeli authorities have maintained policies aimed at integrating more schools into the Israeli education system.
The strike comes amid continued disputes over education administration in East Jerusalem, a territory captured by Israel in 1967 and whose status remains internationally contested.
