Palestinian private schools in occupied East Jerusalem have announced the suspension of classes from Tuesday, citing Israel’s failure to renew entry permits for many teachers and staff from the occupied West Bank.
The decision was made just before the scheduled start of the 2026–2027 academic year in Jerusalem. School owners said Israeli authorities had unexpectedly refused to renew permits for a significant number of employees, leaving schools unable to operate normally.
School administrators also raised concerns about inadequate preparations related to health, hygiene, security and safety, saying these issues could prevent the academic year from beginning in a safe and stable manner.
According to the schools, classes will restart once entry permits for all affected teachers and employees have been issued or renewed without exception.
The General Secretariat for Christian Educational Institutions in Jerusalem separately reported that more than 70 teachers and employees had been denied renewed permits. The schools said those workers were consequently unable to reach their workplaces, creating serious difficulties in preparing for the new academic year.
The staff shortage has affected teaching and administrative activities as well as health services, cleaning, security and safety arrangements.
After consultations with relevant authorities and parents’ representatives, the Christian schools also decided to suspend classes until the necessary permits are restored.
School representatives warned that repeated restrictions could seriously disrupt educational stability and have broader consequences for students, families, teachers and the local community.
The restrictions come amid wider Israeli limits on entry permits for Palestinian workers from the West Bank, including teachers, which have been in place since October 2023.
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