The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, headed by Dr. Ramzi Khouri, Member of the PLO Executive Committee, has issued an urgent appeal to Churches worldwide, calling for immediate action to save Christian schools in Jerusalem and safeguard the fundamental right to education of thousands of Palestinian students.
The appeal comes amid the denial and non-renewal of Jerusalem entry permits for a number of teachers and staff from the West Bank, preventing them from reaching their schools and workplaces. The measures have forced Christian educational institutions to declare an open-ended strike, placing the 2026–2027 academic year at risk and preventing students from returning to their classrooms.
The Committee warned that these measures come as part of a broader and intensifying escalation of restrictions on Palestinian education in Jerusalem, including the imposition of the Israeli curriculum on Palestinian schools and legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset in January 2026 restricting the employment of graduates of Palestinian higher education institutions. It stressed that these policies undermine the identity of Jerusalem and contradict international law and relevant United Nations resolutions affirming that East Jerusalem is occupied territory, as well as the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention safeguarding the right to education in occupied territories.
The Committee stressed that education is a right, not a privilege, and that Christian educational institutions are an integral part of Jerusalem’s history and of the Church’s mission and presence in the city. Having served generations of the Palestinian people, Christians and Muslims alike, these institutions have a historic role that must be protected.
The Committee called on Churches worldwide to use their standing and international relationships to demand the immediate reinstatement and renewal of permits for the affected teachers and staff, ensure the reopening of schools and the safe return of teachers and students to their classrooms, and continue supporting educational and church institutions in Jerusalem. It stressed the urgent need for international action to ensure respect for the rights of the Palestinian people, end ongoing Israeli violations, and hold those responsible to account.
