Jerusalem: The Jerusalem Governorate has issued a warning regarding the Israeli municipality's intention to establish a so-called "educational complex" in the Kafr Aqab neighborhood, situated to the north of occupied Jerusalem. This area currently houses a vocational training college operated by UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East).
According to Palestine News and Information Agency, the governorate's statement suggests that the plan, identified as No. 1421205, encompasses approximately 82 dunums. It is purportedly intended to address the shortage of classrooms and educational facilities in Kafr Aqab. However, the governorate contends that the real impact of this plan would be the displacement of UNRWA's Vocational Training College and the cessation of its operations at the site.
The governorate further cautioned that the plan poses a risk not only in terms of its development but also due to its targeting of an existing UN institution critical for the educational and vocational advancement of Palestinian refugees. The replacement of UNRWA facilities with those managed under Israeli authority is seen as a move to diminish the agency's influence and presence in Jerusalem.
The statement highlighted that historically, the occupation has leveraged the basic educational needs of Palestinian citizens as a tool for exerting control over Palestinian lands and properties. Projects presented as solutions to educational challenges have often served as justifications for actions such as demolition, eviction, or confiscation, with their implementation frequently delayed or abandoned.
In this context, the governorate referenced the educational complex project in Jabal al-Mukabber, which was approved in 2017 but saw little progress for eight years, with most of it still unexecuted. Similarly, the Salehieh family in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood faced forced eviction in 2022 under the pretense of building educational institutions, although construction has not yet commenced.
Another case highlighted is in the town of Anata, where a school project for Palestinian students was approved several years ago, yet no building permit has been granted, and construction has not started.
The statement concluded by emphasizing that the occupation, responsible for the persistent education crisis in Palestinian neighborhoods due to longstanding discrimination and neglect, is now attempting to exploit this crisis to justify land appropriation, property seizure, and the weakening of institutions providing essential services to Palestinians, rather than addressing the underlying causes of the educational deficit.