31 july 2015
PLO Executive Committee member Zakaria al-Agha said a committee within the Arab Peace Initiative will discuss UNRWA’s financial crisis in its upcoming meeting in Cairo next Wednesday.
During a meeting on Thursday with local popular refugee camp committee heads and the National Works Commission members in Gaza Strip, al-Agha said that UNRWA’s financial crisis is the most difficult one it has faced since its creation, which has affected the services it normally provides.
Al-Agha rejected proposals regarding a four-month shutdown of 700 UNRWA schools which serve around more than 320,000 students from the West Bank and Gaza.
He said that UNRWA should find “realistic” solutions to resolve the issue by finding new donors with the help of other UN agencies.
Al-Agha added that UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krhenbhl, upon Palestinian and Arab requests, has sent a letter to the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, calling for the General Assembly to take responsibility for UNRWA since it was established by the Assembly after a UN resolution.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Liberation Organization voiced its firm rejection of any attempt to reduce UNRWA services and close refugee schools for a period of four months, warning of the serious repercussions of any such moves on the lives of Palestinian refugees and the educational process in the refugee camps.
The PLO called for the need to prop up UNRWA services especially that no political solution has been provided to work out the refugee crisis.
It further pushed for urging the donor countries to fulfill their pledges and work on assuaging the UNRWA funding crisis.PLO Executive Committee member Zakaria al-Agha said a committee within the Arab Peace Initiative will discuss UNRWA’s financial crisis in its upcoming meeting in Cairo next Wednesday.
During a meeting on Thursday with local popular refugee camp committee heads and the National Works Commission members in Gaza Strip, al-Agha said that UNRWA’s financial crisis is the most difficult one it has faced since its creation, which has affected the services it normally provides.
Al-Agha rejected proposals regarding a four-month shutdown of 700 UNRWA schools which serve around more than 320,000 students from the West Bank and Gaza.
He said that UNRWA should find “realistic” solutions to resolve the issue by finding new donors with the help of other UN agencies.
Al-Agha added that UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krhenbhl, upon Palestinian and Arab requests, has sent a letter to the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, calling for the General Assembly to take responsibility for UNRWA since it was established by the Assembly after a UN resolution.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Liberation Organization voiced its firm rejection of any attempt to reduce UNRWA services and close refugee schools for a period of four months, warning of the serious repercussions of any such moves on the lives of Palestinian refugees and the educational process in the refugee camps.
During a meeting on Thursday with local popular refugee camp committee heads and the National Works Commission members in Gaza Strip, al-Agha said that UNRWA’s financial crisis is the most difficult one it has faced since its creation, which has affected the services it normally provides.
Al-Agha rejected proposals regarding a four-month shutdown of 700 UNRWA schools which serve around more than 320,000 students from the West Bank and Gaza.
He said that UNRWA should find “realistic” solutions to resolve the issue by finding new donors with the help of other UN agencies.
Al-Agha added that UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krhenbhl, upon Palestinian and Arab requests, has sent a letter to the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, calling for the General Assembly to take responsibility for UNRWA since it was established by the Assembly after a UN resolution.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Liberation Organization voiced its firm rejection of any attempt to reduce UNRWA services and close refugee schools for a period of four months, warning of the serious repercussions of any such moves on the lives of Palestinian refugees and the educational process in the refugee camps.
The PLO called for the need to prop up UNRWA services especially that no political solution has been provided to work out the refugee crisis.
It further pushed for urging the donor countries to fulfill their pledges and work on assuaging the UNRWA funding crisis.PLO Executive Committee member Zakaria al-Agha said a committee within the Arab Peace Initiative will discuss UNRWA’s financial crisis in its upcoming meeting in Cairo next Wednesday.
During a meeting on Thursday with local popular refugee camp committee heads and the National Works Commission members in Gaza Strip, al-Agha said that UNRWA’s financial crisis is the most difficult one it has faced since its creation, which has affected the services it normally provides.
Al-Agha rejected proposals regarding a four-month shutdown of 700 UNRWA schools which serve around more than 320,000 students from the West Bank and Gaza.
He said that UNRWA should find “realistic” solutions to resolve the issue by finding new donors with the help of other UN agencies.
Al-Agha added that UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krhenbhl, upon Palestinian and Arab requests, has sent a letter to the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, calling for the General Assembly to take responsibility for UNRWA since it was established by the Assembly after a UN resolution.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Liberation Organization voiced its firm rejection of any attempt to reduce UNRWA services and close refugee schools for a period of four months, warning of the serious repercussions of any such moves on the lives of Palestinian refugees and the educational process in the refugee camps.
30 july 2015
Sandra Mitchell, Deputy Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), said on Thursday the Agency will determine the academic calendar in two weeks.
Mitchell said, in a meeting in the UNRWA headquarter in Beitunia town in the West Bank, that no deferment decision has been made for the new academic year in UNRWA’s schools. Two weeks are enough to urge the donor countries to offer aid before issuing any decision in this regard.
"In case of deciding to defer the academic year, the students will be compensated like what happened in Gaza Strip after the Israeli aggression last summer," she pointed out.
Mitchell also stressed that the UNRWA will continue offering aid to Palestinian refugees despite the financial crisis.
Regarding the causes of the crisis, she revealed that the needs are growing up in light of donation proportions, taking into consideration the increasing number of refugees because of the natural increase of population, the Israeli occupation, the blockade of Gaza, Syrian war and others reasons related to job opportunities in Lebanon.
Mitchell said, in a meeting in the UNRWA headquarter in Beitunia town in the West Bank, that no deferment decision has been made for the new academic year in UNRWA’s schools. Two weeks are enough to urge the donor countries to offer aid before issuing any decision in this regard.
"In case of deciding to defer the academic year, the students will be compensated like what happened in Gaza Strip after the Israeli aggression last summer," she pointed out.
Mitchell also stressed that the UNRWA will continue offering aid to Palestinian refugees despite the financial crisis.
Regarding the causes of the crisis, she revealed that the needs are growing up in light of donation proportions, taking into consideration the increasing number of refugees because of the natural increase of population, the Israeli occupation, the blockade of Gaza, Syrian war and others reasons related to job opportunities in Lebanon.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Wednesday that a decision to delay the school year has not yet been taken, although a "tough decision" may be made if the agency's budget deficit is not covered in the coming weeks.
UNRWA spokesperson Sami Mushasha said in a statement: "We can’t operate the education program, which is our biggest program, if we are unable to guarantee to the students and their families that we can keep our schools open until the end of the school year."
He said that unless the budget deficit of $101 million is covered before the start of the school year, "the agency will be obliged to take a tough decision related to its ability to operate its schools and professional training centers."
Mushasha said that the agency was reaching out to its main donor countries in an attempt to cover the budget deficit.
He added that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was urging the nations to allocate funds to UNRWA as soon as possible.
UNRWA, the largest service provider for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East, has been struggling in recent months to secure donor funding, forcing the agency to scale back its core services, including education, as well as its emergency relief programs.
The agency held an emergency session last week to discuss what they termed as their "most severe financial crisis ever."
UNRWA spokesperson Sami Mushasha said in a statement: "We can’t operate the education program, which is our biggest program, if we are unable to guarantee to the students and their families that we can keep our schools open until the end of the school year."
He said that unless the budget deficit of $101 million is covered before the start of the school year, "the agency will be obliged to take a tough decision related to its ability to operate its schools and professional training centers."
Mushasha said that the agency was reaching out to its main donor countries in an attempt to cover the budget deficit.
He added that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was urging the nations to allocate funds to UNRWA as soon as possible.
UNRWA, the largest service provider for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East, has been struggling in recent months to secure donor funding, forcing the agency to scale back its core services, including education, as well as its emergency relief programs.
The agency held an emergency session last week to discuss what they termed as their "most severe financial crisis ever."
29 july 2015
The UNRWA has warned it will have to delay the start of the school year in its educational institutions inside and outside Palestine if its severe financial crisis has not been addressed soon.
The UNRWA has not taken yet a decision to postpone the study in its schools and training centers, but it will be forced to do so if its budget deficit of 101 million dollars has not been covered before the start of the school year, according to its spokesman Sami Mushasha on Tuesday.
The spokesman pointed out to diplomatic efforts being made currently by the agency to urge the donor countries to provide it with its financial needs and to permanently fulfil their obligations towards it.
The UNRWA has not taken yet a decision to postpone the study in its schools and training centers, but it will be forced to do so if its budget deficit of 101 million dollars has not been covered before the start of the school year, according to its spokesman Sami Mushasha on Tuesday.
The spokesman pointed out to diplomatic efforts being made currently by the agency to urge the donor countries to provide it with its financial needs and to permanently fulfil their obligations towards it.
24 july 2015
The United Nations on Thursday warned that 700 schools for Palestinian refugees across the Middle East are very likely to be closed due to a sharp funding crisis.
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nikolay Mladenov, warned the UN Security Council in New York that if this shortfall is not filled, the UN will be forced to close its more than 700 schools, which serve some 500,000 Palestinian refugee students.
He further warned of the serious repercussions of such a tragic situation on the rights of refugee children in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
He stressed that UNRWA’s ongoing financial crisis is the most serious of its kind over the past 65 years.
500K Palestinians may miss school: UN
The United Nations has warned that some 500,000 Palestinian children may be kept out of school due to limited funding from donor countries.
Schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will not be able to reopen in the autumn due to a shortage of USD 100 million unless the international community donates the amount to the UN agency, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov said on Thursday.
He added that the donors' contribution could avert a "serious risk" by allowing "UNRWA schools, which educate 500,000 children throughout the Middle East," to open.
Lack of the funding "will have grave implications for Palestine refugee children in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, and for the stability and security of a region already in turmoil," Mladenov told the UN Security Council.
According to UNRWA, over 1.5 million Palestinians - almost a third of the registered Palestinian refugees - live in 58 recognized refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the besieged Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.
UNRWA is currently facing its biggest funding crisis since it was set up in 1949.
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nikolay Mladenov, warned the UN Security Council in New York that if this shortfall is not filled, the UN will be forced to close its more than 700 schools, which serve some 500,000 Palestinian refugee students.
He further warned of the serious repercussions of such a tragic situation on the rights of refugee children in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
He stressed that UNRWA’s ongoing financial crisis is the most serious of its kind over the past 65 years.
500K Palestinians may miss school: UN
The United Nations has warned that some 500,000 Palestinian children may be kept out of school due to limited funding from donor countries.
Schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will not be able to reopen in the autumn due to a shortage of USD 100 million unless the international community donates the amount to the UN agency, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov said on Thursday.
He added that the donors' contribution could avert a "serious risk" by allowing "UNRWA schools, which educate 500,000 children throughout the Middle East," to open.
Lack of the funding "will have grave implications for Palestine refugee children in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, and for the stability and security of a region already in turmoil," Mladenov told the UN Security Council.
According to UNRWA, over 1.5 million Palestinians - almost a third of the registered Palestinian refugees - live in 58 recognized refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the besieged Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.
UNRWA is currently facing its biggest funding crisis since it was set up in 1949.
14 july 2015
At least 41 Palestinian students enrolled at al-Khalil University have been detained by the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) and prevented from pursuing their academic careers.
According to the Prisoners’ Media office Palestinian students have been permanently targeted by the IOA as part of intents to quell their activism and intellectual potentials.
Starting on July 7, 2015, a group of students launched a campaign entitled “My friend is in jail” in solidarity with their detained colleagues.
The campaign aims at mobilizing mass support for the cause of Palestinian students locked up at the Israeli occupation jails and are, therefore, denied the right to pursue their own careers.
The prisoners’ information office called on all university students across the occupied Palestinian territories to initiate a similar campaign in solidarity with Palestinian students at Israeli prisons.
According to the Prisoners’ Media office Palestinian students have been permanently targeted by the IOA as part of intents to quell their activism and intellectual potentials.
Starting on July 7, 2015, a group of students launched a campaign entitled “My friend is in jail” in solidarity with their detained colleagues.
The campaign aims at mobilizing mass support for the cause of Palestinian students locked up at the Israeli occupation jails and are, therefore, denied the right to pursue their own careers.
The prisoners’ information office called on all university students across the occupied Palestinian territories to initiate a similar campaign in solidarity with Palestinian students at Israeli prisons.
1 july 2015
UNRWA said that it may have to close 700 schools across its areas of operation due to the lack of funding.
Spokesman for the UNRWA in Gaza Adnan Abu Hassna told Anatolia news agency that 700 schools, that offer places to half a million children, will be closed by the beginning of the next school year due to the financial crisis faced by the Agency.
"There is no official decision in this regard, but due to the Agency's serious financial deficit that stands at US$ 101 million we will be forced not to open our schools by the beginning of the next school year," he said.
252 UNRWA schools in Gaza Strip that offer services to 248,000 students are threatened with closure in case the financial deficit was not solved.
UNRWA deficit will deprive 5 million refugees across Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria from its services.
Spokesman for the UNRWA in Gaza Adnan Abu Hassna told Anatolia news agency that 700 schools, that offer places to half a million children, will be closed by the beginning of the next school year due to the financial crisis faced by the Agency.
"There is no official decision in this regard, but due to the Agency's serious financial deficit that stands at US$ 101 million we will be forced not to open our schools by the beginning of the next school year," he said.
252 UNRWA schools in Gaza Strip that offer services to 248,000 students are threatened with closure in case the financial deficit was not solved.
UNRWA deficit will deprive 5 million refugees across Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria from its services.
25 june 2015
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) launched a global Ramadan campaign to raise funds to support the education of thousands of Palestinian refugee children in UNRWA schools in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The campaign, under the title, #SOS4Gaza ‘Message in a Bottle’ aims to raise awareness about the hope of Gaza’s children in a better future. It is championed by Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Youth and Arab Idol star Mohammad Assaf.
UNRWA said, according to WAFA, that the campaign is based on a film that features the children of Gaza against a backdrop of devastation caused by last year’s Israeli attack; #SOS4Gaza features seven children putting messages expressing their hopes and dreams in bottles, which they send to sea.
The movie tells the story of a group of Palestinian refugee children from a Beach Camp in Gaza, who are frustrated by the bleak conditions in which they live; the children decide to put messages expressing their hopes and dreams in bottles, which they send out to sea in the hopes that help will come, said UNRWA.
Meanwhile, UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl said that, “Despite all challenges, children in Gaza have dreams and want a future, like every other child in the world,” adding that, “The campaign comes at a time of particular need among Palestine refugees.”
“It is humbling to see that the children featured in the video, who, like 950,000 others in Gaza, have grown up surrounded by poverty and conflict, have not lost hope,” he said.
He expressed hope that people will be “inspired by the children to give generously. Supporters of the campaign will also be showing solidarity with Gaza at a time of enduring isolation and despair.”
“UNRWA invites people to join the campaign, which will reach out to a global audience with a message of hope and charity during Ramadan, by donating to UNRWA’s education programme in Gaza,” said the agency on its website.
“May #SOS4Gaza help bring to the children of Gaza a modest sense of joy during the holy month,” UNRWA concluded.
According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, around 327 schools were completely destroyed during the latest Israeli 2014 summer aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The campaign, under the title, #SOS4Gaza ‘Message in a Bottle’ aims to raise awareness about the hope of Gaza’s children in a better future. It is championed by Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Youth and Arab Idol star Mohammad Assaf.
UNRWA said, according to WAFA, that the campaign is based on a film that features the children of Gaza against a backdrop of devastation caused by last year’s Israeli attack; #SOS4Gaza features seven children putting messages expressing their hopes and dreams in bottles, which they send to sea.
The movie tells the story of a group of Palestinian refugee children from a Beach Camp in Gaza, who are frustrated by the bleak conditions in which they live; the children decide to put messages expressing their hopes and dreams in bottles, which they send out to sea in the hopes that help will come, said UNRWA.
Meanwhile, UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krähenbühl said that, “Despite all challenges, children in Gaza have dreams and want a future, like every other child in the world,” adding that, “The campaign comes at a time of particular need among Palestine refugees.”
“It is humbling to see that the children featured in the video, who, like 950,000 others in Gaza, have grown up surrounded by poverty and conflict, have not lost hope,” he said.
He expressed hope that people will be “inspired by the children to give generously. Supporters of the campaign will also be showing solidarity with Gaza at a time of enduring isolation and despair.”
“UNRWA invites people to join the campaign, which will reach out to a global audience with a message of hope and charity during Ramadan, by donating to UNRWA’s education programme in Gaza,” said the agency on its website.
“May #SOS4Gaza help bring to the children of Gaza a modest sense of joy during the holy month,” UNRWA concluded.
According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, around 327 schools were completely destroyed during the latest Israeli 2014 summer aggression on the Gaza Strip.
20 june 2015
Turkey's Religious Affairs Committee is planning to offer 40,000 scholarships for Palestinian students from the Gaza Strip to study in Turkish religious schools. According to Felesteen newspaper, the committee is currently interviewing students from Gaza in order to prepare for their travel to Turkey.
The principal of the committee, Selçuk Öztürk, said that the aim is to help the people of Gaza, which is under siege. "In cooperation with the ministry of education, we are currently interviewing 40,000 students from Gaza who are expected to receive scholarships to study in Turkey."
Öztürk said that the scholarship would cover study fees for a four-year programme in secondary schools, adding that the students would be able to enter Turkish universities after leaving school. Next year, there will be another 4,000 scholarships. Flights to and from Turkey as well as accommodation costs will be covered by the scholarships.
The principal of the committee, Selçuk Öztürk, said that the aim is to help the people of Gaza, which is under siege. "In cooperation with the ministry of education, we are currently interviewing 40,000 students from Gaza who are expected to receive scholarships to study in Turkey."
Öztürk said that the scholarship would cover study fees for a four-year programme in secondary schools, adding that the students would be able to enter Turkish universities after leaving school. Next year, there will be another 4,000 scholarships. Flights to and from Turkey as well as accommodation costs will be covered by the scholarships.
26 may 2015
Office of Christian Schools in occupied Palestine
On Wednesday, the 27th of May 2015, at 11:00 AM, an unprecedented demonstration will be held in the plaza in front of the Lev Ram building in Jerusalem (Ministry of Education headquarters) by the Christian Schools in Israel protesting on the discriminatory policy of the Ministry of Education towards their schools.
Participants in the demonstration will include clergymen (Bishops, Priests, Nuns, and Pastors) in addition to parents of children in Christian schools throughout the country.
The Christian schools in Israel consist of more than 30,000 students, almost equally divided between Christians and non-Christians. Most of these schools were Palestinian, and began operating years before the establishment of Israel. They were built and developed through donations from abroad. They provided and still providing the general Arab community with quality education that has resulted in the high achievements of the Christian schools. This high quality education is displayed, among other things, in the number of Christian schools listed at the top of the Ministry of Education's published categories. While achieving high academic results, they also teach their students Christian doctrine and instruct them according to the Christian values of loving others, forgiveness and tolerance.
These schools belong to the "recognized but not public" classification of schools in the Ministry of Education and receive partial funding from the Ministry. The rest of their funding comes from fees that are collected from the parents.
For years, the Ministry of Education has been consistently cutting the budget of Christian schools (45% in the last 10 years). This has forced the Christian schools to raise the service fees that are collected from the parents to a level that has become a heavy burden on the parents, especially for parents from the Arab sector where the average family income is well known to be lower than the national average.
Last year the Ministry of Education issued new regulations that even limited the ability of Christian schools to collect fees from the parents. The combination of these two things, substantial budget cuts and limiting allowable fees, is actually viewed as a death penalty for these schools.
A committee appointed by the Office of Christian Schools in Israel held negotiations for 8 months with the Ministry of Education where the Ministry proposed that the Christian schools become public schools. This proposal was seen by the owners of the schools (churches, monasteries, etc.) as the end of the Christian, value-based educational enterprise and even a critical blow to the Christian minority in the Holy Land. In light of that, the Christian schools decided to end these negotiations.
The owners of these schools from around the world (The Vatican, Germany, England, France, Scotland, USA and others) are aware of this crisis and are watching with growing concern.
The protestors in the demonstration will be demanding that the Ministry of Education fully fund the Christian schools, just like other educational networks, and thus lift the burden from the shoulders of the parents and cancel the need for them to pay the service fees to the Christian schools.
For any further information - contact Father Abed Elmasih Fahim, head of the Christian Schools' office at 050-5376481.
On Wednesday, the 27th of May 2015, at 11:00 AM, an unprecedented demonstration will be held in the plaza in front of the Lev Ram building in Jerusalem (Ministry of Education headquarters) by the Christian Schools in Israel protesting on the discriminatory policy of the Ministry of Education towards their schools.
Participants in the demonstration will include clergymen (Bishops, Priests, Nuns, and Pastors) in addition to parents of children in Christian schools throughout the country.
The Christian schools in Israel consist of more than 30,000 students, almost equally divided between Christians and non-Christians. Most of these schools were Palestinian, and began operating years before the establishment of Israel. They were built and developed through donations from abroad. They provided and still providing the general Arab community with quality education that has resulted in the high achievements of the Christian schools. This high quality education is displayed, among other things, in the number of Christian schools listed at the top of the Ministry of Education's published categories. While achieving high academic results, they also teach their students Christian doctrine and instruct them according to the Christian values of loving others, forgiveness and tolerance.
These schools belong to the "recognized but not public" classification of schools in the Ministry of Education and receive partial funding from the Ministry. The rest of their funding comes from fees that are collected from the parents.
For years, the Ministry of Education has been consistently cutting the budget of Christian schools (45% in the last 10 years). This has forced the Christian schools to raise the service fees that are collected from the parents to a level that has become a heavy burden on the parents, especially for parents from the Arab sector where the average family income is well known to be lower than the national average.
Last year the Ministry of Education issued new regulations that even limited the ability of Christian schools to collect fees from the parents. The combination of these two things, substantial budget cuts and limiting allowable fees, is actually viewed as a death penalty for these schools.
A committee appointed by the Office of Christian Schools in Israel held negotiations for 8 months with the Ministry of Education where the Ministry proposed that the Christian schools become public schools. This proposal was seen by the owners of the schools (churches, monasteries, etc.) as the end of the Christian, value-based educational enterprise and even a critical blow to the Christian minority in the Holy Land. In light of that, the Christian schools decided to end these negotiations.
The owners of these schools from around the world (The Vatican, Germany, England, France, Scotland, USA and others) are aware of this crisis and are watching with growing concern.
The protestors in the demonstration will be demanding that the Ministry of Education fully fund the Christian schools, just like other educational networks, and thus lift the burden from the shoulders of the parents and cancel the need for them to pay the service fees to the Christian schools.
For any further information - contact Father Abed Elmasih Fahim, head of the Christian Schools' office at 050-5376481.
25 may 2015
The Arab League has warned from the collapse of the educational process in Palestine due to the Israeli occupation discriminatory policies and the Palestinian and Arab identity obliteration.
In his speech Sunday during the the opening session of the 72nd course for the council of the educational affairs, Assistant Secretary General of Palestine Affairs in the Arab League, Mohammad Sbeih confirmed the necessity of Arab support to the educational process for Palestinian students, and the strong steadfast against the Israeli occupation attempts to strip them from education, which can produce a generation that is able to challenge the occupation and establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Sbeih also warned that Israel was continually targeting the educational procedure in Jerusalem through imposing the Israeli curriculum on East Jerusalem educational institutes, to completely demolish the Arab identity and Judaize Jerusalem.
Occupation is also preventing the establishment of any new schools in East Jerusalem or renovating the old ones, which lead to lack of about 1000 classrooms, in addition to using ineligible rooms for classes, such as narrow corridors, caravans and Zinc rooms crowded and narrow. The expensiveness of private schools also lead to the increase of students dropping out at an early age.
"Israel, the occupying Power, on May 15 celebrated its sixty-seventh anniversary of occupying Palestinian land, and destroying all sides of Palestinian daily life including economic, social, health, cultural, and mostly; educational, since the occupation is aware of its importance in nation-structure and its effect on the strength of a nation," Sbeih said.
He continued, "Israel is using every possible way to restrict the movement of Palestinian student in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and fight against having an academically educated Palestinian youth by preventing them from heading to universities."
Sbeih assured that Israeli forces in their consecutive attacks on Gaza always targeted educational institutes and hindered the reconstruction process. They also blocked the school textbooks from being entered to the strip and prevented Gazans from reaching West Bank universities, scattering the Palestinian curriculum.
The conference on the educational process in Palestine will be held for six days in Cairo starting Sunday. It discusses the Israeli occupation impact on it and the policies used against it in Jerusalem and all over occupied Palestine.
Participators include delegations from Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, The Arab Organizations for Education, Culture and Science, Association of Arab Universities, Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees 'UNRWA'.
In his speech Sunday during the the opening session of the 72nd course for the council of the educational affairs, Assistant Secretary General of Palestine Affairs in the Arab League, Mohammad Sbeih confirmed the necessity of Arab support to the educational process for Palestinian students, and the strong steadfast against the Israeli occupation attempts to strip them from education, which can produce a generation that is able to challenge the occupation and establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Sbeih also warned that Israel was continually targeting the educational procedure in Jerusalem through imposing the Israeli curriculum on East Jerusalem educational institutes, to completely demolish the Arab identity and Judaize Jerusalem.
Occupation is also preventing the establishment of any new schools in East Jerusalem or renovating the old ones, which lead to lack of about 1000 classrooms, in addition to using ineligible rooms for classes, such as narrow corridors, caravans and Zinc rooms crowded and narrow. The expensiveness of private schools also lead to the increase of students dropping out at an early age.
"Israel, the occupying Power, on May 15 celebrated its sixty-seventh anniversary of occupying Palestinian land, and destroying all sides of Palestinian daily life including economic, social, health, cultural, and mostly; educational, since the occupation is aware of its importance in nation-structure and its effect on the strength of a nation," Sbeih said.
He continued, "Israel is using every possible way to restrict the movement of Palestinian student in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and fight against having an academically educated Palestinian youth by preventing them from heading to universities."
Sbeih assured that Israeli forces in their consecutive attacks on Gaza always targeted educational institutes and hindered the reconstruction process. They also blocked the school textbooks from being entered to the strip and prevented Gazans from reaching West Bank universities, scattering the Palestinian curriculum.
The conference on the educational process in Palestine will be held for six days in Cairo starting Sunday. It discusses the Israeli occupation impact on it and the policies used against it in Jerusalem and all over occupied Palestine.
Participators include delegations from Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, The Arab Organizations for Education, Culture and Science, Association of Arab Universities, Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees 'UNRWA'.
14 may 2015
Israeli forces injured three Palestinian children with live fire during severe clashes that erupted between soldiers and school students in the Jabal al-Tawil neighborhood of al-Bireh in the occupied West Bank Thursday, witnesses said.
The injured children were taken to a hospital for treatment, while Israeli forces detained six Palestinian children, all under 10 years of age, and took them to the nearby Psagot settlement, locals told Ma'an.
Israeli forces had reportedly set up an ambush for the students prior to the clashes, locals added.
An Israeli army spokeswoman did not have immediate information but told Ma'an she was looking into the incident.
Palestinian children routinely come under live fire and excessive force from Israeli forces, according to children's rights group Defense for Children International- Palestine.
Israeli forces shot and injured at least 30 children across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since the beginning of this year as of March 24, 2015, DCIP reported.
While Israeli military regulation permits the use of live ammunition when a direct mortal threat exists, the DCIP found no evidence that any of the children injured in 2015 thus far posed such a threat to Israeli forces or settlers.
Israeli military courts rarely prosecute members of Israeli forces in such cases, leading to what rights groups argue a culture of impunity that enables incidents like Thursday's injuries.
From 2000-2012, only 117 of 2,207 investigations opened by the Military Police Criminal Investigations Division were indicted, about 5 percent of the total files opened, according to Israeli human rights group Yesh Din.
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour sent an open letter to the UN Security Council earlier this month demanding that Israel be brought to justice over violations and abuse against Palestinian children.
The injured children were taken to a hospital for treatment, while Israeli forces detained six Palestinian children, all under 10 years of age, and took them to the nearby Psagot settlement, locals told Ma'an.
Israeli forces had reportedly set up an ambush for the students prior to the clashes, locals added.
An Israeli army spokeswoman did not have immediate information but told Ma'an she was looking into the incident.
Palestinian children routinely come under live fire and excessive force from Israeli forces, according to children's rights group Defense for Children International- Palestine.
Israeli forces shot and injured at least 30 children across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since the beginning of this year as of March 24, 2015, DCIP reported.
While Israeli military regulation permits the use of live ammunition when a direct mortal threat exists, the DCIP found no evidence that any of the children injured in 2015 thus far posed such a threat to Israeli forces or settlers.
Israeli military courts rarely prosecute members of Israeli forces in such cases, leading to what rights groups argue a culture of impunity that enables incidents like Thursday's injuries.
From 2000-2012, only 117 of 2,207 investigations opened by the Military Police Criminal Investigations Division were indicted, about 5 percent of the total files opened, according to Israeli human rights group Yesh Din.
Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour sent an open letter to the UN Security Council earlier this month demanding that Israel be brought to justice over violations and abuse against Palestinian children.
13 may 2015
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Wednesday at dawn, several Palestinian communities in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, broke into and searched a number of homes leading to cashes with local youths.
Media sources in Nablus said clashes took place near Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, after dozens of soldiers invade the area, in addition to the Amman Street and the Joseph Tomb area.
The soldiers fired dozens of gas bombs near the main entrance of Balata refugee camp, causing many Palestinians to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
The army also invaded Madama village, broke into the homes of Basel, Bajes and No’man Jadallah, and searched them before photographing the properties' interior and exterior.
The soldiers asked Jadallah to deliver a verbal “warning message” to the headmaster of the nearby local high school, informing him that the army will shoot any student who leaves school during schooldays.
They also said that the army would be repeatedly invading all homes along the settlers bypass road should local youths throw stones on settlers’ cars, and army vehicles.
In related news, several army vehicles invaded the site of the former Dothan military base, near ‘Arraba town, south of Jenin, and started bulldozing the site.
Media sources in Nablus said clashes took place near Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, after dozens of soldiers invade the area, in addition to the Amman Street and the Joseph Tomb area.
The soldiers fired dozens of gas bombs near the main entrance of Balata refugee camp, causing many Palestinians to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
The army also invaded Madama village, broke into the homes of Basel, Bajes and No’man Jadallah, and searched them before photographing the properties' interior and exterior.
The soldiers asked Jadallah to deliver a verbal “warning message” to the headmaster of the nearby local high school, informing him that the army will shoot any student who leaves school during schooldays.
They also said that the army would be repeatedly invading all homes along the settlers bypass road should local youths throw stones on settlers’ cars, and army vehicles.
In related news, several army vehicles invaded the site of the former Dothan military base, near ‘Arraba town, south of Jenin, and started bulldozing the site.
10 may 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) stormed Sunday a school near Yatta town, to the south of al-Khalil, and took photos for the area. The teachers and students confronted the soldiers and clashes erupted.
Activist Rateb al-Jabour told the PIC reporter that the Israeli military vehicles raided the area and the IOF soldiers broke into Susiya Primary School in Yatta amid the confrontation of students and teachers.
"The IOF soldiers were carrying cameras and maps and took pictures of the school’s vicinity and the nearby neighborhoods for unreleased reasons," he added.
Jabour said the Palestinians in Yatta are concerned that it may be a preparatory procedure for confiscation or demolition of their homes and properties.
He revealed that the school teachers along with students confronted the IOF soldiers leading to the eruption of clashes including fist fights.
Activist Rateb al-Jabour told the PIC reporter that the Israeli military vehicles raided the area and the IOF soldiers broke into Susiya Primary School in Yatta amid the confrontation of students and teachers.
"The IOF soldiers were carrying cameras and maps and took pictures of the school’s vicinity and the nearby neighborhoods for unreleased reasons," he added.
Jabour said the Palestinians in Yatta are concerned that it may be a preparatory procedure for confiscation or demolition of their homes and properties.
He revealed that the school teachers along with students confronted the IOF soldiers leading to the eruption of clashes including fist fights.
7 may 2015
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) escorted by policemen stormed Health Work Committees’ center in Shufat in Occupied Jerusalem and handed a one-year closure notice to the staff.
The Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) claimed that “the center is used for terrorist activities and accordingly it has been decided to close it for one year based on Prevention of Terrorism Act (1948)”.
The center is run by the Health Work Committees School Health Program which offers health services to Jerusalemite students in more than 62 schools. Thousands of students as well as teachers and parents benefit from the program. The Israeli officers stormed the center, confiscated its computers and handed summonses to the head of the school health program and its administrative assistant to be questioned in Israeli intelligence headquarters.
The program started its work in Occupied Jerusalem in 1990. It offers health services and health educational activities to school students.
The services include children vaccination, preventive and diagnosis medical checkups and many others in light of the fact that Israel does not allow the Palestinian Ministry of Health to work in schools of Occupied Jerusalem.
The Health Work Committees in Jerusalem called on the international and local human rights, health and legal institutions to intervene in order to oblige Israel to cancel the closure order.
It said the closure order is arbitrary and unjust as it affects the health of thousands of the Jerusalemite school students.
The Israeli Occupation Authority (IOA) claimed that “the center is used for terrorist activities and accordingly it has been decided to close it for one year based on Prevention of Terrorism Act (1948)”.
The center is run by the Health Work Committees School Health Program which offers health services to Jerusalemite students in more than 62 schools. Thousands of students as well as teachers and parents benefit from the program. The Israeli officers stormed the center, confiscated its computers and handed summonses to the head of the school health program and its administrative assistant to be questioned in Israeli intelligence headquarters.
The program started its work in Occupied Jerusalem in 1990. It offers health services and health educational activities to school students.
The services include children vaccination, preventive and diagnosis medical checkups and many others in light of the fact that Israel does not allow the Palestinian Ministry of Health to work in schools of Occupied Jerusalem.
The Health Work Committees in Jerusalem called on the international and local human rights, health and legal institutions to intervene in order to oblige Israel to cancel the closure order.
It said the closure order is arbitrary and unjust as it affects the health of thousands of the Jerusalemite school students.
At least seven schoolchildren inhaled tear gas during clashes with Israeli troops Thursday morning in Arab al-Ramadin village south of Hebron in the southern West Bank, the local council reported.
Ahmad Suleiman, who heads the village's local council, said large numbers of Israeli troops stormed the area and destroyed the main electricity network.
As a result, angry schoolchildren clashed with the soldiers who showered them with tear gas hurting at least seven. Two children have been detained, according to Suleiman. This was the second time Israeli forces destroyed the village's electricity network, added Suleiman, who noted that the local council filed legal procedures at an Israeli court.
Ahmad Suleiman, who heads the village's local council, said large numbers of Israeli troops stormed the area and destroyed the main electricity network.
As a result, angry schoolchildren clashed with the soldiers who showered them with tear gas hurting at least seven. Two children have been detained, according to Suleiman. This was the second time Israeli forces destroyed the village's electricity network, added Suleiman, who noted that the local council filed legal procedures at an Israeli court.
4 may 2015
Israeli forces have sealed the main entrance to the East Jerusalem neighborhood of al-Zaayyem, "locking up more than 6,000 Palestinians in a large prison," local residents say.
An iron gate set up by Israeli forces has been completely closed for ten days, head of al-Zaayyem local council Naim Sub Labantold Ma'an News Agency, on Monday.
Israeli forces first set up the gate near a military checkpoint at the main entrance to al-Zaayyem in late March, citing security concerns.
The soldiers have controlled the gate since then, Sub Laban said, opening and closing it whenever they want to restrict the movement of schoolchildren, businessmen and others who need to go in and out every day.
Sub Laban added that Israeli forces had opened the gate for several hours on Sunday afternoon, and again for two hours on Monday morning, but that otherwise the gate had been closed for ten days.
When the gate is closed, residents of the neighborhood, who have described the closure as "collective punishment" are forced to use an alternative route of dirt roads about five kilometers long.
When the gate was first set up, Israeli authorities claimed it would remain open all the time "except when there is a dangerous security situation," Sub Laban said.
Abu Mahmoud Shweiki, an ice cream distributor who sells to stores in al-Zaayyem, said that he now has to drive his truck over a long dirt road every day in order to load and unload his goods.
Schoolchildren also said that they have been forced to walk a long route along dirt roads in order to reach their schools every day.
An iron gate set up by Israeli forces has been completely closed for ten days, head of al-Zaayyem local council Naim Sub Labantold Ma'an News Agency, on Monday.
Israeli forces first set up the gate near a military checkpoint at the main entrance to al-Zaayyem in late March, citing security concerns.
The soldiers have controlled the gate since then, Sub Laban said, opening and closing it whenever they want to restrict the movement of schoolchildren, businessmen and others who need to go in and out every day.
Sub Laban added that Israeli forces had opened the gate for several hours on Sunday afternoon, and again for two hours on Monday morning, but that otherwise the gate had been closed for ten days.
When the gate is closed, residents of the neighborhood, who have described the closure as "collective punishment" are forced to use an alternative route of dirt roads about five kilometers long.
When the gate was first set up, Israeli authorities claimed it would remain open all the time "except when there is a dangerous security situation," Sub Laban said.
Abu Mahmoud Shweiki, an ice cream distributor who sells to stores in al-Zaayyem, said that he now has to drive his truck over a long dirt road every day in order to load and unload his goods.
Schoolchildren also said that they have been forced to walk a long route along dirt roads in order to reach their schools every day.
24 apr 2015
Dozens of students suffered breathing difficulties after inhaling teargas fired heavily on Thursday into their secondary schools in Sawiya town in southern Nablus.
Director of the targeted school Adnan Hussein told the PIC reporter that dozens of girl students suffered breathing problems and fainting after Israeli forces brutally stormed and fired tear gas bombs at the neighboring boy school.
Four girl students suffered a brief fainting spell while a fifth one was transferred to hospital for treatment.
Three Israeli military jeeps surrounded a local secondary school for boys in an attempt to break into it claiming that a number of students stoned Israeli forces Thursday morning.
The director of the school strongly denounced the Israeli attack on the two secondary schools, pointing out that it is the second attack of its kind within a month.
Director of the targeted school Adnan Hussein told the PIC reporter that dozens of girl students suffered breathing problems and fainting after Israeli forces brutally stormed and fired tear gas bombs at the neighboring boy school.
Four girl students suffered a brief fainting spell while a fifth one was transferred to hospital for treatment.
Three Israeli military jeeps surrounded a local secondary school for boys in an attempt to break into it claiming that a number of students stoned Israeli forces Thursday morning.
The director of the school strongly denounced the Israeli attack on the two secondary schools, pointing out that it is the second attack of its kind within a month.