West Bank Christian Schools Suspend Classes After Israel Denies Entry Permits for Teachers
Christian schools in Jerusalem suspended classes starting September 1, 2026, after Israeli authorities refused to renew entry permits for more than 70 teachers and staff from the West Bank. The closures affected over 8,500 students across multiple institutions. Church leaders and advocacy groups called on Israeli officials to restore the permits immediately.
Christian schools in Jerusalem shut their doors on September 1, 2026, after Israeli authorities declined to renew entry permits for more than 70 teachers and staff members from the West Bank.
The permit denials left schools without enough qualified staff to operate, forcing administrators to suspend classes for more than 8,500 students. The affected institutions include schools run by Catholic and other Christian denominations that have served Jerusalem families for generations.
Church leaders and human rights advocates called the situation urgent. They urged Israeli officials to restore the permits and allow teachers to return to their classrooms without delay.
The West Bank Solidarity Project, launched by The Vulnerable People Project in September 2026, began monitoring American Catholic media coverage of the crisis and other challenges facing Christian communities in the Holy Land. The organization has also been running a "Save West Bank Christians" campaign since Ash Wednesday 2026, focused on protecting historic Christian communities in towns such as Bethlehem, Taybeh, and Beit Sahour.
The school closures added to broader concerns about the shrinking Christian population in the region. Advocates say economic pressure and restricted movement are pushing Christian families to leave their ancestral communities.
