Six Unauthorized UNRWA Schools Shut Down by Israel in Jerusalem

In a decisive move to uphold Israeli sovereignty and security in its capital, the Israeli Ministry of Education has shut down six schools operated by UNRWA that were illegally functioning in eastern Jerusalem. The closures, announced on Thursday, follow months of due process and a formal notice issued to the institutions last month.

The schools, which operated under the auspices of the U.N.’s Palestinian aid agency, were found to be functioning without proper licensing. According to the Education Ministry, this defied Israeli law and directly violated the October Knesset resolution banning UNRWA operations within Israeli territory. That decision was prompted by UNRWA’s documented ties to terrorist activity in Gaza, raising serious concerns about the content and intent of the agency's presence in Israel’s capital.

“The schools were operating illegally and without a license,” stated the Ministry of Education. Authorities also confirmed that parents were informed well in advance and had been encouraged to re-enroll their children in officially recognized municipal schools.

The Ministry further assured that the educational needs of the students would be fully met. “We will ensure the immediate and optimal integration of all students into appropriate educational frameworks within Jerusalem,” a ministry spokesperson affirmed.

UNRWA, long mired in controversy, has faced growing scrutiny over its failure to vet its staff and curriculum, some of which have been found to glorify violence and promote incitement. This latest closure reflects Israel’s broader effort to ensure that all educational institutions within its borders are held to legal, ethical, and pedagogical standards that foster peace, responsibility, and lawful citizenship.

While the Palestinian Authority condemned the decision and UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini criticized the move as an “assault on children,” Israel remains firm in its stance that education must not serve as a tool for radicalization. For a city as complex and critical as Jerusalem, ensuring lawful governance and safe, supervised education for all communities is a matter of national interest.

The closures also underline a larger truth: Israel, as the rightful and sovereign authority in Jerusalem, has every obligation to monitor and guide the institutions that shape the next generation. With nearly 40% of the city’s population being Arab, the state’s efforts to provide inclusive, secure, and lawful education demonstrate both responsibility and foresight.

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