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“For hundreds of years, the Christian schools in Jerusalem have carried out a deeply rooted educational, formative, and humanitarian mission, forming an integral part of the city’s identity and its cultural and social fabric,” reads the statement. “Throughout their history, our schools have been committed to providing quality and distinguished education, and to forming generations grounded in knowledge, values, belonging, and responsibility.”
As schools prepared to open the new academic year 2026–2027, entry permits for more than 70 teachers and staff members were not renewed. “This occurred suddenly and without prior notice, preventing them from reaching their schools and directly affecting the schools’ readiness to begin the academic year,” reads the statement. “The absence of such a large number of staff members affects the various aspects of school life, including educational, administrative, and health services, in addition to cleaning services and safety and security procedures.”
This makes it impossible to guarantee a safe and stable start for students, notes the statement.
“While we reaffirm our full commitment to our students’ right to education, we also emphasize the importance of the educational and formative mission carried by our schools, which forms an essential part of our identity, culture, and presence in the city of Jerusalem,” reads the statement. “The recurrence of such measures destabilizes our schools, obstructs their ability to fulfill their mission, and negatively affects students, their families, educational staff, and society as a whole.”
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, WCC general secretary, noted that Christian schools, especially in Jerusalem, have been a beacon of rich culture and education for decades, some for over 100 years.
“We note that Israeli authorities’ separation barrier and permit system that limits West Bank Palestinians from entering Jerusalem, has been applied very strictly since after 7 October 2023. And no permits were issued for the past two years,” said Pillay. “It has recently also blocked teachers in addition to hundreds of thousands workers in other fields.”
The World Council of Churches looks at this act in great concern as the school year began on 1 September. “To prevent the school children from their right to education by preventing their teachers to access the schools due to the Israeli permit system is a violation of human rights,” said Pillay. “We question the logic of such limitations on teachers and the Israeli government`s violation of human rights. We request that the school teachers get their necessary permits and that no one should be banned from the Holy City.”
