Violation: Halt of Work Notice targets a School.

Location: Ras Al-‘Auja area / Jericho Governorate.

Date: September 12^th 2021.

Perpetrators: The Israeli Occupation Civil Administration.

Victims: Residents of Al-‘Auja Bedouin community.

Description:

Sunday, September 12^th 2021, A massive army force accompanied by the building inspector at the Israeli Civil Administration raided Ras Al-‘Auja area north Jericho city , and targeted Al-‘Auja Waterfalls school , with a halt of work military order on the pretext of building without a license.

According to notice number (119871) the occupation sat October 4^th 2021 , as the date of the building and organization - the inspection subcommittee session in Beit El to decide the legal status of the facilities.

Notice number 119871 which targets the school

Photos 1-4: Al-‘Auja Waterfalls school

Al-‘Auja Waterfalls school was established early 2021 with Funding from EU , and covers an area of 1 dunums . Reportedly, the school is built of steel sheets and consists of 9 classrooms (First to ninth grades) . the school provides education to students, it also consists of a principle’s room and a teachers room , in addition to facilities and a playground.

Head of Bedouin communities, Mohammed Al-Mlihat told LRC:

“Ras Al-‘Auja area is inhabited by 65 Bedouin families, about 540 people descend from Bedouin families of Ar-Rashayda, Tarifat and Ka’abneh, the families live in houses built of steel sheets , and depend on Cattle breeding as a main source of income . Noteworthy, Ras Al-‘Auja community is like many other Palestinian Communities at the Jordan Valley deprived of basic services like water and electricity , and the occupation is imposing restrictions on construction.”

Al-Malihat asserted:

“Early this year; With an initiative from non-governmental organization and EU funding, we started the construction of the only school at the community, which was a glimpse of hope for children of the community , who had to walk several kilometers a day along unsecured roads to get o Al-‘Auja school . The Ministry of Education, on the other hand employed four teachers to teach at the school.

Last April, the occupation forces started raiding the school and harassing students and teachers, so we assigned Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center to follow up the case , and we managed to freeze the halt of work order. Last September however, the occupation targeted the school with a halt of work notice , and we work now with official institutions to protect the school from demolition.”

The Occupation authorities served halt of work and/or demolition orders to most schools at the Jordan valley , as part of  their arbitrary policies at the Jordan Valley that aim to minimize Palestinian presence , and drive them out of the area by making their lives intolerable.

Right to Education in international conventions:

Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948:

Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 13 of International Convent on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to education. They agree that education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity, and shall strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They further agree that education shall enable all persons to participate effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups, and further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

This Publication has been produced with the assistance of the EU
The Contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the individual organization only , and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the EU