Israel Tightens Control on East Jerusalem Palestinian Schools

Palestinian teachers and schools in occupied East Jerusalem are facing escalating pressure as Israeli authorities implement policies that threaten educational autonomy. Among the affected educators is Jamal Shalabi, a chemistry teacher who commutes daily from the West Bank. He was recently informed that his travel permit will be revoked at the end of the 2026-27 academic year, part of a broader move impacting some 180 Palestinian teachers. Permit restrictions have intensified since the 2023 war in Gaza, limiting teachers strictly to their workplaces during specific hours and barring them from entering Jerusalem during certain holidays. Delays in permit issuances have previously triggered school strikes across the city to protest these measures.

These administrative hurdles run parallel to an Israeli government plan aimed at increasing the number of Palestinian students studying the Israeli curriculum. Funding for new schools is conditioned on adopting this curriculum and training teachers within the Israeli system. A report by the human rights organisation Ir Amim warns that these policies exploit educational needs to undermine Palestinian national and cultural identity. The report also highlights a law banning teachers with degrees from Palestinian institutions, which is expected to worsen existing staff shortages. Critics and school principals point out that schools face the loss of funding, financial support, and operating licences if they refuse to introduce the Israeli curriculum, alongside strict oversight mechanisms such as classroom inspections and bag searches.

Israeli restrictions and curriculum changes threaten the autonomy of Palestinian education in East Jerusalem.

Why it matters

The ongoing changes in East Jerusalem highlight a growing confrontation over educational autonomy and cultural identity. With thousands of students shifting to the Israeli curriculum and strict oversight targeting traditional textbooks and teaching staff, the long-term character of Palestinian schooling in the city is facing unprecedented pressure.