Jerusalem Christian Schools Suspend Classes After Staff Permits Denied
Christian schools in Jerusalem suspended the 2026-2027 academic year on September 1 after Israeli authorities refused to renew entry permits for more than 70 teachers and staff from the West Bank. Over 8,500 students are affected. School leaders say they cannot ensure a safe environment without the missing personnel.
Christian schools in Jerusalem suspended classes on September 1, 2026, after Israeli authorities refused to renew entry permits for more than 70 teachers and staff members.
The General Secretariat for Christian Educational Institutions in Jerusalem announced the suspension. The affected staff members live in the West Bank and need permits to enter Jerusalem for work. Without them, schools said they could not safely open for the 2026-2027 academic year.
More than 8,500 students are affected. School leaders said the missing staff covered not just teaching but also administration, health services, cleaning, and security.
The situation follows a series of policy changes. In January 2026, the Israeli Knesset passed a law barring educators with degrees from Palestinian Authority universities from teaching in Israeli schools. In March 2026, the Israeli Ministry of Education announced it would not grant work permits to 171 Palestinian teachers from the West Bank for the current school year.
This is not the first time the issue has come up. At the start of the previous academic year, 171 teachers were initially denied permits but were allowed to return after a week-long strike.
The schools serve both Christian and Muslim students and have operated in Jerusalem for generations. The General Secretariat said the permit denials undermine the stability of their institutions and their mission of providing education to the community.
