Palestinian Minister Denied Access To Jerusalem School
Palestinian education minister, Sabri Saidam, was on Monday barred from visiting a school in the Old City of annexed east Jerusalem.
“The minister entered Jerusalem but was prevented from entering the school. Israeli security banned him at the door of the school,” ministry spokesman Sadiq al-Khadour told AFP, saying it was the third such incident.
“This ban comes in the context of escalation against Palestinian education in Jerusalem.”
Israel lays claim to the predominantly Palestinian East Jerusalem by virtue of conquest during the 1967 Middle East War (Six Day War).
This right is, however, not recognised by the international community.
The incident was confirmed by the Israeli minister of interior, Gilad Erdan.
He said the ban is in place to avoid the weakening of the sovereignty Israel is aiming for in Jerusalem.
He added that it is well within his right “to prohibit any official political activity of the Palestinian Authority in the territories under the sovereignty of the state of Israel”.
Schools in the annexed refuse to adopt the Israeli curriculum and as they consider themselves Palestinians.