Jerusalem Christian Schools Close for Protest Over Palestinian Teacher Permit Denials

Nearly 10,000 students in Jerusalem’s Christian schools began the academic year a day late after the schools closed on Tuesday, September 1, to protest Israel’s refusal to renew entry permits for more than 70 Palestinian teachers and staff from the West Bank. The closure was announced on August 31, as the schools found themselves unable to prepare for the 2026–2027 academic year due to the sudden and unannounced denial of permits.

The 15 schools serve students from Jerusalem’s Christian communities and include institutions that have operated for hundreds of years. Hagop Djernazian, a Jerusalem Armenian community activist, emphasized the importance of these schools as a vital part of the city’s cultural and religious fabric. “These schools are an important part of the Jerusalem Mosaic, especially for the Christian communities,” he said. “They give a safe home for many children and for their students. They keep the traditions of the local communities alive.”

In response to the protest, Israeli authorities announced on Tuesday that the permits would be approved, allowing the teachers and staff to enter. However, the permits are currently confirmed only through the end of the calendar year, leaving the schools uncertain about the teachers’ ability to remain for the full academic year. Djernazian expressed concern that the situation could reflect a broader issue affecting religious freedom and the right to education. “We are worried that they may not be renewed, or we will have to force them to renew them, or if there will not be a solution, then we will find ourselves in the same problem that we were in the past few days,” he said.

Israeli authorities did not provide a reason for the initial rejection or the eventual limited approval of the entry permits. Philip Farah, a founder of the Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace, criticized the permit regime, comparing it to the apartheid pass system in South Africa. “It greatly limits the ability of Palestinians anywhere under Israeli rule to access the best talent for their schools,” he said. “It’s shameful that a state that purports to represent the Jewish people — who had been ghettoized in Europe — is imposing ghettoization on another people.”

The issue also comes at a time when many East Jerusalem schools are undergoing significant changes. This year, new first and seventh grade classes will replace the Palestinian curriculum, raising concerns about the impact on educational continuity and cultural identity. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Christian communities in the region, as they navigate complex political and administrative barriers.

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