Palestinian officials stated that the Israeli authorities are threatening to demolish more than 50 Palestinian schools in the West Bank, coinciding with the start of the new school year today, Saturday.
Sadiq al-Khadour, the spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Education, informed journalists in Ramallah that the Israeli authorities are threatening to tear down at least 53 schools in the areas classified as (C) in the West Bank, jeopardizing the future of more than a thousand male and female students. He detailed that final demolition notices were recently issued to several schools in Hebron and the Jordan Valley, heightening concerns for the future of students in these regions. This comes as the new school year commenced today in over 60 schools in the provinces of Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Bethlehem, and East Jerusalem, while the majority of schools will begin their classes tomorrow, Sunday.
Moayed Sha’ban, the head of the Anti-Wall and Settlement Committee in the Palestine Liberation Organization, stated, “Since the start of this year, the Israeli authorities have demolished three schools in the West Bank.” In a statement, he viewed the ongoing Israeli targeting of schools as a “blatant violation of the most basic human rights that guarantee the right to education and a healthy, safe childhood for children, especially those under occupation.” He also accused Israel of adopting “a discriminatory planning policy based on racial considerations, granting unlimited construction licenses to settlers and preventing Palestinians from continuing their normal lives.”
Yesterday, Friday, the European Union condemned the Israeli authorities’ demolition of the Ain Samia school in Ramallah, which was funded by European financial support, urging Israel to respect the educational rights of Palestinian children.
