How Israel is tightening its grip on Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem

Israel is tightening its influence over Palestinian education in occupied East Jerusalem through restrictions on teachers’ entry permits and incentives for schools to adopt the Israeli curriculum. Palestinian educators and rights groups say these measures threaten access to education and the independence of Palestinian schooling.

Chemistry teacher Jamal Shalabi is among 180 teachers told their permits will be revoked when they expire at the end of the 2026-27 academic year; delays and restrictions have already prompted school strikes. An Israeli government plan conditions funding for new schools on adopting the Israeli curriculum, and about half its education budget for East Jerusalem is allocated to expanding that curriculum. Palestinian officials estimate that more than 45,000 pupils, around 38 per cent of the city’s student population, now study it.