4 sept 2018
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Tuesday morning, the Schools Area in Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, leading to protests before the army fired rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades, causing many to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
Medical sources in Hebron said the soldiers fired gas bombs at the students, and many surrounding buildings, especially near Tareq Bin Ziad School, and Hebron Elementary School, in the southern area of the city.
They added that many Palestinians suffered the effects of teargas inhalation, and received the needed treatment.
In addition, the soldiers assaulted several students and teachers of Hebron Elementary Schools, causing injuries, before firing gas bombs.
Medical sources in Hebron said the soldiers fired gas bombs at the students, and many surrounding buildings, especially near Tareq Bin Ziad School, and Hebron Elementary School, in the southern area of the city.
They added that many Palestinians suffered the effects of teargas inhalation, and received the needed treatment.
In addition, the soldiers assaulted several students and teachers of Hebron Elementary Schools, causing injuries, before firing gas bombs.
29 aug 2018
As over a million of children returned to school in occupied Palestinian territories on Wednesday, nearly 300 Palestinian children, including three girls, have been deprived of their basic right to education.
The Palestinian Center for Prisoners Studies said that Israeli authorities denied 300 Palestinian children to go back to their schools as they are kept in Israeli custody amid very difficult detention conditions.
Head of the center Raefat Hamouda called on children’s rights organizations to intervene immediately to protect Palestinian children’s right to have safe and unrestricted access to education.
Palestinian children are routinely and systematically tortured and otherwise ill-treated in Israeli jails, Hamouda explained.
Such practices totally violate international human rights laws and norms, he added, calling for an international protection to Palestinian childhood.
The Palestinian Center for Prisoners Studies said that Israeli authorities denied 300 Palestinian children to go back to their schools as they are kept in Israeli custody amid very difficult detention conditions.
Head of the center Raefat Hamouda called on children’s rights organizations to intervene immediately to protect Palestinian children’s right to have safe and unrestricted access to education.
Palestinian children are routinely and systematically tortured and otherwise ill-treated in Israeli jails, Hamouda explained.
Such practices totally violate international human rights laws and norms, he added, calling for an international protection to Palestinian childhood.
The Israeli army handed, Wednesday, a young Palestinian man a military order denying him access to the college where he studies, in Nablus, in northern West Bank, for six months.
The student, Yousef Dweikat, 20, is from Balata town, east of Nablus. In a phone interview, the student told the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA), that he was summoned for interrogation in Salem military base and security center, west of Jenin.
He added that he was interrogated by Israeli intelligence officers before they handed him a warrant preventing him from entering his college, the an-Najah National University, in Nablus, for six months.
The student was informed that the order was made due to his political activities in the college campus.
Dweikat is a third-year Electrical Engineering student; he is also a former political prisoner who, on September 17th, 2017, was released from an Israeli detention center and being imprisoned for seven months.
He said that he contacted his college, and several human rights organizations, asking for help so that he can continue his studies.
The student, Yousef Dweikat, 20, is from Balata town, east of Nablus. In a phone interview, the student told the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA), that he was summoned for interrogation in Salem military base and security center, west of Jenin.
He added that he was interrogated by Israeli intelligence officers before they handed him a warrant preventing him from entering his college, the an-Najah National University, in Nablus, for six months.
The student was informed that the order was made due to his political activities in the college campus.
Dweikat is a third-year Electrical Engineering student; he is also a former political prisoner who, on September 17th, 2017, was released from an Israeli detention center and being imprisoned for seven months.
He said that he contacted his college, and several human rights organizations, asking for help so that he can continue his studies.
26 aug 2018
As the new school year approaches, the Parents’ Union in Occupied Jerusalem has reiterated its rejection of the Israeli curriculum in Palestinian schools, urging parents not to let their children attend classes using Israeli textbooks.
In a statement, the union warned that the Israeli curriculum aims to strip the Palestinian students of their identity and their belonging to their homeland, history and religion.
The union held the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem and the Israeli ministry of education fully responsible for any disruption of the educational process in the holy city through imposing curriculums and opening new classrooms and buildings in Arab schools for that purpose.
In a statement, the union warned that the Israeli curriculum aims to strip the Palestinian students of their identity and their belonging to their homeland, history and religion.
The union held the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem and the Israeli ministry of education fully responsible for any disruption of the educational process in the holy city through imposing curriculums and opening new classrooms and buildings in Arab schools for that purpose.
16 aug 2018
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on Thursday rounded up three Palestinian students from their school in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
The school secretary affirmed that Israeli forces stormed the Saad al-Aas School in Bethlehem’s town of Al-Khader, amid heavy fire of teargas bombs.
The soldiers violently raided the classrooms where they arrested two sixth-graders and a ninth-grader, according to him.
The three students were later taken to Etizon military camp to the south of the city for unknown reasons, he added.
The school secretary affirmed that Israeli forces stormed the Saad al-Aas School in Bethlehem’s town of Al-Khader, amid heavy fire of teargas bombs.
The soldiers violently raided the classrooms where they arrested two sixth-graders and a ninth-grader, according to him.
The three students were later taken to Etizon military camp to the south of the city for unknown reasons, he added.
At an extraordinary session of the UNRWA Advisory Commission, in Amman today, the Commissioner-General, Pierre Krähenbühl announced that the school-year for 526’000 Palestine refugee girls and boys will open on time in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
According to the PNN, Krähenbühl emphasized that students and teachers will be returning to the 711 schools on time “because it is crucial to protect the fundamental right to education for Palestine refugee girls and boys and the community’s unwavering attachment to learning and the development of skills”.
He added that schools will open, taking into account the fact that host countries have repeatedly drawn attention to the serious risks to regional stability, if this were not the case.
The Commissioner-General also underlined the severe ongoing risks facing the agency: “While announcing today the opening of the school year, I wish to be clear that UNRWA is by no stretch of the imagination out of the woods. Since January 2018, UNRWA has mobilized $238 M of additional funding, which is very encouraging.
However, we currently only have funding to run the agency’s services until the end of September. We need a further $217 M to ensure that our schools not only open but can be run until the end of the year. This requires the resolute continuation of the collective mobilization that has been underway since January”.
“I wish to pay tribute to all our partners, both hosts and the donors who stepped forward at this time of challenge, either by advancing transfers of expected donations or by making new pledges and payments. This tribute includes the Secretary-General of the United Nations whose investment has been critical and outstanding”, said Krähenbühl.
The meeting of the Advisory Commission was also called to discuss proposals on how to secure the needed resources, including through special events on the margins of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York. The Commissioner-General called both on all member states of the United Nations who have pledged but not yet transferred their contribution to do so as soon as possible, and on other countries who are still considering providing additional money to join this remarkable and unprecedented effort to preserve UNRWA’s vital services to a very anxious Palestine Refugee community.
Krähenbühl confirmed that UNRWA will, for its part, take ongoing robust measures to safeguard the financial situation of the agency, focusing on reform initiatives and the identification of efficiencies. Finally, he reaffirmed the the UNRWA’s deep commitment to preserving the dignity of Palestine Refugees, its services and its important mandate.
According to the PNN, Krähenbühl emphasized that students and teachers will be returning to the 711 schools on time “because it is crucial to protect the fundamental right to education for Palestine refugee girls and boys and the community’s unwavering attachment to learning and the development of skills”.
He added that schools will open, taking into account the fact that host countries have repeatedly drawn attention to the serious risks to regional stability, if this were not the case.
The Commissioner-General also underlined the severe ongoing risks facing the agency: “While announcing today the opening of the school year, I wish to be clear that UNRWA is by no stretch of the imagination out of the woods. Since January 2018, UNRWA has mobilized $238 M of additional funding, which is very encouraging.
However, we currently only have funding to run the agency’s services until the end of September. We need a further $217 M to ensure that our schools not only open but can be run until the end of the year. This requires the resolute continuation of the collective mobilization that has been underway since January”.
“I wish to pay tribute to all our partners, both hosts and the donors who stepped forward at this time of challenge, either by advancing transfers of expected donations or by making new pledges and payments. This tribute includes the Secretary-General of the United Nations whose investment has been critical and outstanding”, said Krähenbühl.
The meeting of the Advisory Commission was also called to discuss proposals on how to secure the needed resources, including through special events on the margins of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York. The Commissioner-General called both on all member states of the United Nations who have pledged but not yet transferred their contribution to do so as soon as possible, and on other countries who are still considering providing additional money to join this remarkable and unprecedented effort to preserve UNRWA’s vital services to a very anxious Palestine Refugee community.
Krähenbühl confirmed that UNRWA will, for its part, take ongoing robust measures to safeguard the financial situation of the agency, focusing on reform initiatives and the identification of efficiencies. Finally, he reaffirmed the the UNRWA’s deep commitment to preserving the dignity of Palestine Refugees, its services and its important mandate.
3 aug 2018
The Campaign for the Right to Enter the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Thursday, expressed deep concern at the rise in Israeli denial, of work or stay visa applications, for foreign nationals seeking to enter the occupied territories, saying this measure is hurting Palestinian education.
The group said, in a press release, that, in June, seven international faculty members at Birzeit University (BZU) — one-third of the international staff at the university — were refused visa extensions by the Israeli authorities; several others have already been obliged to leave the country, according to WAFA.
This policy, it added, “has severely diminished opportunities for development of faculty, courses, and research programs at Palestinian institutes of higher education.”
The Campaign said that, while international academics seeking to enter or work in the occupied Palestinian territory have long faced obstacles, the situation has dramatically declined, over the past year.
Since 2017, foreign nationals wishing to maintain a presence in the occupied territories, whether for reasons of work or family unity, have faced an alarming escalation in the rejection of visa extension requests and in the frequency and range of arbitrary demands and conditions imposed by Israeli authorities.
“Palestinian educational institutions have been hard hit by Israeli denials or restrictions on entry and presence in the occupied Palestinian territories,” it said, explaining that this has caused serious disruption to the academic programs and administration of these institutions, and “has undermined Palestinian universities’ ability to attract further external expertise as foreign academics are deterred from accepting teaching and research posts by the arbitrary rejections and destructive restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities.”
The Campaign called for an immediate halt to Israel’s practices and “arbitrary and abusive practice of denying entry to foreign nationals traveling to the occupied Palestinian territories to promote educational development,” urging the international community to “stand with us in protecting the Palestinian people’s right to education.”
The group said, in a press release, that, in June, seven international faculty members at Birzeit University (BZU) — one-third of the international staff at the university — were refused visa extensions by the Israeli authorities; several others have already been obliged to leave the country, according to WAFA.
This policy, it added, “has severely diminished opportunities for development of faculty, courses, and research programs at Palestinian institutes of higher education.”
The Campaign said that, while international academics seeking to enter or work in the occupied Palestinian territory have long faced obstacles, the situation has dramatically declined, over the past year.
Since 2017, foreign nationals wishing to maintain a presence in the occupied territories, whether for reasons of work or family unity, have faced an alarming escalation in the rejection of visa extension requests and in the frequency and range of arbitrary demands and conditions imposed by Israeli authorities.
“Palestinian educational institutions have been hard hit by Israeli denials or restrictions on entry and presence in the occupied Palestinian territories,” it said, explaining that this has caused serious disruption to the academic programs and administration of these institutions, and “has undermined Palestinian universities’ ability to attract further external expertise as foreign academics are deterred from accepting teaching and research posts by the arbitrary rejections and destructive restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities.”
The Campaign called for an immediate halt to Israel’s practices and “arbitrary and abusive practice of denying entry to foreign nationals traveling to the occupied Palestinian territories to promote educational development,” urging the international community to “stand with us in protecting the Palestinian people’s right to education.”
16 july 2018
Palestinian Ministry of Education on Monday morning exceptionally opened the new school year at Khan al-Ahmar's only school in defiance of the Israeli plan to demolish the village.
More than 170 students attended, alongside their families, as Minister of Education Sabri Saidam declared the beginning of the school year at Khan al-Ahmar school.
The opening ceremony was also attended by secretary of Fatah's Revolutionary Council Majed al-Fatiani, head of the National Committee Against the Wall and Settlements Walid Assaf, head of the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission Issa Qaraqe, and a number of activists.
Saidam denounced the ongoing Israeli violations against the families of Khan al-Ahmar and stressed that Israel's plan to demolish the Bedouin village and its only school will not pass.
For his part, Walid Assaf said that opening the school year early in Khan al-Ahmar is a strategic decision that sends a message to the Israeli authorities that demolishing the village and displacing its residents is not acceptable.
Israel's Supreme Court had decided to freeze the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar pending examination of a petition filed against the project.
Demolition of Khan al-Ahmar is part of a larger project prepared by Israel's Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel in 1979 to uproot all Bedouin communities east of Jerusalem.
More than 170 students attended, alongside their families, as Minister of Education Sabri Saidam declared the beginning of the school year at Khan al-Ahmar school.
The opening ceremony was also attended by secretary of Fatah's Revolutionary Council Majed al-Fatiani, head of the National Committee Against the Wall and Settlements Walid Assaf, head of the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs Commission Issa Qaraqe, and a number of activists.
Saidam denounced the ongoing Israeli violations against the families of Khan al-Ahmar and stressed that Israel's plan to demolish the Bedouin village and its only school will not pass.
For his part, Walid Assaf said that opening the school year early in Khan al-Ahmar is a strategic decision that sends a message to the Israeli authorities that demolishing the village and displacing its residents is not acceptable.
Israel's Supreme Court had decided to freeze the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar pending examination of a petition filed against the project.
Demolition of Khan al-Ahmar is part of a larger project prepared by Israel's Minister of Agriculture Uri Ariel in 1979 to uproot all Bedouin communities east of Jerusalem.
12 july 2018
Israeli soldiers invaded, on Thursday at dawn, Jenin city, Jenin refugee camp and Burqin town, in northern West Bank, conducted extensive military searches and installed sudden roadblocks.
Media sources in Jenin said dozens of soldiers invaded the city, especially The Interior Ministry Junction, al-Bayader area, al-Marah, az-Zahra’ neighborhood, Marah Sa’ad, and the UNRWA Schools.
They added that the soldiers also invaded Burqin town, west of Jenin, and installed sudden roadblocks around many villages and towns, east of Jenin, before stopping and searching dozes of cars.
Media sources in Jenin said dozens of soldiers invaded the city, especially The Interior Ministry Junction, al-Bayader area, al-Marah, az-Zahra’ neighborhood, Marah Sa’ad, and the UNRWA Schools.
They added that the soldiers also invaded Burqin town, west of Jenin, and installed sudden roadblocks around many villages and towns, east of Jenin, before stopping and searching dozes of cars.
11 july 2018
The Israeli army dismantled on Wednesday a Palestinian school in Khillet al-Daba’, east of Yatta, in the southern occupied West Bank, and seized the caravans that make up the school.
Head of the local village council Mohamed Raba’i said the army rolled into the village early Wednesday, a day after declaring an intention to remove the school, and took away the caravans that made up the classrooms.
Raba’i said the arbitrary demolition was carried out on the same day as schoolchildren joined a summer camp held by the Palestinian Education Ministry.
On Tuesday, Israeli troops stormed the area and took away the school furniture, threatening to tear it down under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
Head of the local village council Mohamed Raba’i said the army rolled into the village early Wednesday, a day after declaring an intention to remove the school, and took away the caravans that made up the classrooms.
Raba’i said the arbitrary demolition was carried out on the same day as schoolchildren joined a summer camp held by the Palestinian Education Ministry.
On Tuesday, Israeli troops stormed the area and took away the school furniture, threatening to tear it down under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
The Israeli army raided, on Tuesday, a school in the village of Khillat al-Dabe, in Masafer Yatta, southern occupied West Bank, and informed the head of the Twanneh village council, Muhammad Ribee, that it will be removed.
Ribee told WAFA that the soldiers also informed a local resident that the three rooms he uses as shelter for his family will also be demolished, under the pretext they were built without permit.
The school was built of mobile homes to accommodate students from the area.
Israel does not allow Palestinian construction in Masafer Yatta, under the pretext the area is under full Israeli military rule and any construction should be first approved by the military government, which rarely, if ever, grants permission to Palestinians, anyway.
Ribee told WAFA that the soldiers also informed a local resident that the three rooms he uses as shelter for his family will also be demolished, under the pretext they were built without permit.
The school was built of mobile homes to accommodate students from the area.
Israel does not allow Palestinian construction in Masafer Yatta, under the pretext the area is under full Israeli military rule and any construction should be first approved by the military government, which rarely, if ever, grants permission to Palestinians, anyway.
9 july 2018
Israeli soldiers invaded, Monday, Masafer Yatta area, south of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and handed a demolition order of one home, in addition to delivering another order for the removal of mobile homes, which are used as a make-shift school.
Rateb Jabour, the media coordinator of the National and Popular Committees, said the soldiers handed Mohammad Ali Dababsa an order for demolishing his home.
He added that the home, built with light bricks and tin, is on his land in Khallet ad-Dabe’ area, in Masafer Yatta.
In addition, the soldiers, personnel of the Israeli “Construction and Planning Committee” in the occupied West Bank, and members of Rigafim extreme right-wing colonialist organization, handed orders for the removal of mobile homes, which were installed a few days ago, to serve as a local school for children in Khallet ad-Dabe’.
Rateb Jabour, the media coordinator of the National and Popular Committees, said the soldiers handed Mohammad Ali Dababsa an order for demolishing his home.
He added that the home, built with light bricks and tin, is on his land in Khallet ad-Dabe’ area, in Masafer Yatta.
In addition, the soldiers, personnel of the Israeli “Construction and Planning Committee” in the occupied West Bank, and members of Rigafim extreme right-wing colonialist organization, handed orders for the removal of mobile homes, which were installed a few days ago, to serve as a local school for children in Khallet ad-Dabe’.