Israel police issued on February 23, 2017 an order stating the closure on Al-Nukhba elementary school in Sur Baher village in Occupied Jerusalem. The school was closed on the claim of teaching the ideologies of Hamas, Israel Police said.

Louai Bkeirat, school’s director  told Land Research Center the following:

 It is a private school in the village of Sur Baher that opened at the beginning of the current school-year (September 2016) where 230 students from kindergarten to 6th grade are enrolled. The school had filed all necessary and required documents to the Israeli Ministry of Education. At the beginning of the school-year, officials from the Ministry came to the school, took a closer look at the curriculum, students, teachers and employees. They also checked the classrooms and the building and everything seemed positive. The school’s administration was surprised by the Ministry’s decision at the end of last October in which it refused to license the school and decided to close it.

He also explained that the school had appealed the closure decision to the District Court but it was rejected. They submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court and was also rejected, and the judge ratified the closure decision. The school is currently waiting for a session to be held at the Ministry of Education to discuss the appeal filed against the closure especially that the reasons are all confidential and unclear.

Since last Thursday, the school has shut down its doors following an order by the occupation authorities. Students received education in the street as the students’ parents’ committee in Sur Baher decided to organize activities to condemn the decision until the school opens again.

This case study is part of Kan'aan Project