Israel imposes curriculum on 45,000 Palestinian students in East Jerusalem

What Happened

Israeli authorities began imposing the Israeli curriculum on more than 45,000 Palestinian students in state-run schools in East Jerusalem starting Tuesday, the first day of the Israeli school year. The measure covers all new first-grade and seventh-grade classes in the state education system in East Jerusalem, and means approximately 38 percent of all Palestinian students in the city will now be taught the Israeli curriculum rather than the Palestinian one. The Palestinian Authority's Jerusalem Governorate spokesperson, Maarouf al-Rifai, said the decision represented a dangerous escalation and was unprecedented since 1967, calling it a direct attack on Palestinian national and cultural identity. Al-Rifai specifically said the Israeli curriculum marginalises fundamental topics regarding the Palestinian narrative and history, including the Nakba, prisoners, and Jerusalem. Separately, Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's far-right national security minister, planned to launch a children's book celebrating his "activities and achievements" for distribution to Israeli education institutions on the same day at his Jewish Power party conference.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The curriculum imposition is part of a wider crackdown on Palestinian education in occupied East Jerusalem and is perceived by the Palestinian Authority as an attempt to reshape Palestinian historical consciousness and national identity, particularly by marginalising the Nakba, prisoners, and Jerusalem. Education remains a central front in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over sovereignty, demography, and collective memory in the city, and unilateral changes to curricula can heighten political tensions, weaken Palestinian institutional presence, and draw international scrutiny regarding occupation practices.

Watch For

Monitor the opening of the Israeli school year in East Jerusalem for student enrolment, parent protests, or school boycotts. Watch for further statements or actions from the Palestinian Authority, UNESCO or other UN bodies, and international governments regarding the curriculum change. Also track Itamar Ben Gvir's book distribution and any public or political backlash, as well as whether Israeli authorities extend the curriculum to additional grade levels beyond first and seventh grades.