Israel passes law aimed at dismantling Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem

The Israeli Knesset approved a bill on Tuesday that authorises the restructuring of schools in East Jerusalem that are currently administered by the Palestinian Authority. The legislation, which passed with a majority vote, mandates the transfer of management and funding responsibilities to Israeli municipal bodies, effectively ending the separate Palestinian education system that has operated in the predominantly Arab neighborhoods of the city. Under the new law, curricula will be aligned with the Israeli national education framework, and school staff will be required to meet standards set by the Ministry of Education.

The move has drawn criticism from Palestinian officials, who describe it as an attempt to erode cultural and linguistic rights, and from several international human‑rights organizations that warn it could violate obligations under international law concerning the protection of minority education. Israeli officials argue the reform aims to standardise education and improve resource allocation across Jerusalem. The law is set to take effect at the start of the next academic year, with implementation overseen by the Jerusalem municipality.