Right-wing Israeli settler movement pushed for demolition of Palestinian primary school

/ May 31, 2023
Israeli forces demolish Jubbet al-Dib primary school, 7 May 2023 – photo: HIRN

A campaign by the pro-settler movement Regavim led to the demolition of Palestinian primary school in the West Bank on 7 May. Regavim, which was led by current Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich before he was elected to parliament, petitioned the Jerusalem District Court over the school at Jubbet al-Dib in March this year. Just under two months later, Israeli forces moved in, demolishing the entire building and even taking away the rubble. 

Classroom furniture and computer equipment provided by the Nina Franklin Fund which mainly fundraises through the NEU, was destroyed during the demolition. 

Dave Clinch, an NEU and Palestine Solidarity Campaign activist from North Devon, told Middle East Solidarity: 

“This is another crime against the rights of the child and the UN Charter of Human Rights. What kind of state attacks children and demolishes their right to education?” 

The school and playground before the demolition – photo: HIRN

The school which was torn down in 2023 had itself been rebuilt after the previous school was demolished in 2017, Dave said. 

“On the night of 8 September 2017 around one hundred volunteers rebuilt the school that had been demolished three weeks earlier this time with bricks and cement instead of the previous portable classrooms. Israeli forces tried to stop them, firing tear gas, bullets and stun grenades. They completed the build and lessons began on the following day. In the years since the school has been upgraded with walls being plastered and tiled, a new roof, trees planted and a play area. This is what was destroyed on 7 May 2023.” 

A spokesperson for Hebron International Resources Network (HIRN) which has supported the school for many years wrote on the day following the demolition that students and teachers would not give up easily on their education. 

Classes continued under tents after the school was torn down – photo: HIRN

“The struggle to keep the school of Jubbet al Dib continued today as the temporary tents financed by HIRN were set up by 8:00 AM. The teachers presented to their students one of the most important lessons in their lives; the lesson of perseverance, peaceful resistance and the value of steadfastness especially as the 75th anniversary of the Nakba is upon us.”

Eight education unions in Britain and Ireland issued a statement condemning the demolition including NEU, NASUWT, UCU, Unison, EIS, FORSA and INTO. 

Jubbet al-Dib’s school is only one of many targeted by Israeli demolition orders. According to a report released by the UN in March, 58 schools serving 6500 children were at risk of demolition. Restrictive planning laws make it “virtually impossible for Palestinians to obtain permits for the construction of schools in Area C. The United Nations Secretary General has stated that this planning and zoning regime is “restrictive, discriminatory and incompatible with requirements under international law.”

What you can do:

Related posts