Schools in east Jerusalem strike after Israel fails to renew entry permits for teaching staff

The General Secretariat for Christian Educational Institutions of Jerusalem said the decision was made after Israel allegedly failed to renew the entry permits without prior warning.

Multiple private schools in east Jerusalem are on strike as of Tuesday until further notice, after Israel reportedly failed to renew entry permits for more than 70 teaching staff, according to a statement issued by the schools’ owners on Monday evening.

The General Secretariat for Christian Educational Institutions of Jerusalem said the decision was made after Israel allegedly failed to renew the entry permits without prior warning, making the opening of the school year impossible.

The statement further claimed that the absence of the staff members meant that educational, administrative and health-related school operations, as well as cleaning services and safety and security procedures, could not be properly carried out, depriving students of a “safe and stable” environment in which to learn.

The striking schools serve some 15,000 students, according to data from the east Jerusalem organization Ir Amim.

“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 and guaranteeing students’ right to orderly and safe education, while enabling our schools to continue their authentic educational, pedagogical, and humanitarian mission,” the statement read.

Strike comes amid concern over Israel's 'imposed' curriculum

The strike, according to the Palestinian Authority-run WAFA, came amid concerns over plans for Israel’s curriculum to be “imposed” on 45,000 students from first through seventh grade in east Jerusalem.

Though Israel tried to introduce its own curriculum after the Six-Day War in 1967, the move was met with significant backlash and the plans were ultimately abandoned.

More recent measures have affected Palestinians’ ability to work within Israel’s education and public-service systems without an Israeli education. In 2018, Israel’s Labor and Welfare Ministry revoked its recognition of social-work degrees from Palestinian institutions including Al-Quds University. In January 2026, the Knesset passed legislation restricting graduates of Palestinian universities from teaching in Israeli and east Jerusalem schools without Israeli accreditation.

The strikes notably also come as the Palestinian education sector continues to struggle. Palestinian Authority-run schools have been forced to reduce classes to only three days a week over funding issues, and Israel has shut down UNRWA operations in east Jerusalem.