Israel uses permit warfare to cripple Christian schools, erase Palestinian presence in al-Quds

Israel has barred more than 230 Christian teachers from al-Quds, triggering school closures and exposing a systematic campaign to undermine Christian and Palestinian presence in the city.

Christian schools in al-Quds launched a week-long strike after Israel blocked more than 230 Christian teachers from the occupied West Bank from entering al-Quds to teach, the US-based Palestine Chronicle news website reported on Tuesday.

Since Israel built the apartheid wall around al-Quds in 2002, Palestinians from the occupied West Bank have been barred from entering the city without special permits granted only to limited categories and for short periods.

More than 230 teachers from Bethlehem, many of whom worked in al-Quds long before the wall, are now forced to obtain these permits.

Al-Quds is home to 15 Christian schools educating over 12,000 students, which are among the oldest and most respected institutions in the city.

The restrictive move highlights a broader pattern of Israeli obstruction of education in the occupied territories, including denying new classrooms, raiding schools, arresting and searching students and teachers, shutting schools under various pretexts, and banning renovations.

Richard Zananiri, principal of the Bishop’s School, said Israel’s refusal to issue permits shocked schools, disrupted the academic year, and forced closures just as the second semester was set to begin on January 10.

“I call them permits of humiliation. They are not a favor from Israel. Their purpose is humiliation. When they prevent dozens of teachers from reaching Jerusalem (al-Quds) from the West Bank, they are disrupting the entire school year,” he noted.

Some teachers were denied permits outright, while others received partial permits that barred entry on specific days, severely damaging school schedules and extracurricular activities.

"Although these are holidays for our schools, we have many extracurricular activities that take place on those days and require the teachers’ presence,” Zananiri added.

Al-Quds churches warn ‘Christian Zionism’ threatens Christianity

Senior Christian leaders in occupied al-Quds have warned that “Christian Zionism” and outside agendas are fracturing Christian unity in the Holy Land and undermining their authority.

The crisis is worsened by a chronic teacher shortage in al-Quds, as Christian schools rely heavily on experienced educators from the West Bank and have few local alternatives.

After a week of suspended classes, Tel Aviv renewed permits for most teachers but claimed that 57 “didn’t pass the security check and their cases will be dealt with later,” a move that leaves schools vulnerable to renewed coercion and instability.

Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims of protecting minority rights, policies on the ground reveal persistent violations of Christian religious freedom, including restrictions on access to holy sites, attacks by settlers on clergy and church property, and real estate and tax measures targeting Christian institutions.

These abuses align with decades-long efforts to “Israelize” education in al-Quds by restricting Palestinian curricula, imposing fines and taxes, reducing licenses, and creating unsafe learning environments - part of a systematic strategy to weaken Palestinian national identity by striking at education itself.

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