MAS Discusses the Effective Mechanisms for Inclusive Educational and Health Services for Palestinians in East Jerusalem
Ramallah, Wednesday, September 25th, 2024: The Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) held a roundtable discussion on “the Effective Mechanisms for Inclusive Educational and Health Services for Palestinians in East Jerusalem”. A group of specialists and experts participated in-person at MAS headquarters or online via ZOOM. Mrs. Nidaa Qamhawi, Strategic Development Expert, prepared and presented the background paper on this topic. Dr. Ashraf Alawar, Minster of Jerusalem Affairs, Dr. Rasim Khamaisi, Lecturer at Haifa University, Dr. Maher Awwad, Director of Health Directorate of Jerusalem Governorate, Mr. Abdelqader Al-Husseini, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Faisal Husseini Foundation commented on the discussion topic.
Mr. Misyef Jamil, MAS Researcher, opened the session by emphasizing the importance of this topic, stating that the subject matter falls within MAS's priorities, forming part of a set of research activities undertaken by MAS on Jerusalem, especially health and education sectors. He recalled that MAS previously prepared studies about Jerusalem, and extended MAS’s appreciation of the Heinrich Böll Foundation- Palestine and Jordan for their support of this, and other, MAS roundtables in 2024. Following this session, MAS will issue a policy brief on this topic , emphasizing recommendations for relevant, policy makers.
Qamhawi outlined that the aim of this paper is to shed light on the challenges facing education and healthcare systems in East Jerusalem on all fronts, especially the Palestinian communities, before and after the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on the 7th of October. The challenges outlined in the paper focused on the discriminatory policies and administrative hurdles, aging and inadequate infrastructure, cultural erosion and identity struggles, spatial segregation and educational gaps, in addition to fragmented governance and jurisdiction. Regarding health challenges, Qamhawi outlined the fragmented healthcare systems, chronic underfunding and resource scarcity, infrastructure deficits and healthcare gaps, and many other challenges facing the two service sectors.
The background paper recommended the necessity of developing a unified and context-sensitive curriculum, bridging the digital divide through innovative solutions and community involvement, empowering local educational initiatives, as well as leveraging decentralized and adaptive healthcare solutions and enhancing community-based healthcare solutions.
In turn, Dr. Rasim Khamaisi emphasized the necessity of unifying coordinated efforts for education in Jerusalem, heading towards investing in and developing Palestinian curriculum, and facing the Israelization of education. This requires preparing comprehensive national strategic plans funded by local and international partners. He also stated that education is a right for Jerusalemites and is the responsibility of the occupying state under international law. However, the occupation systematically neglects investing in this sector, placing education at the bottom of the expenditure priorities. In addition, the occupation systematically undermining and manipulating the Palestinian curricula and seeks to weaken the educational system in East Jerusalem.
In his comment on the issue, the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Dr. Ashraf Al Awar touched on the identity struggles in Jerusalemites education, and that the Israeli occupation tries his best, by carrot and stick, to obliterate the Arabic and Palestinian identity. He indicated that a national Palestinian strategy is being prepared to face the Israeli plans by insisting on the Palestinian curriculum, supporting schools, raising awareness among Jerusalemites. Moreover, he outlined that the Israeli plans haven’t yet succeeded in diverting the course of the educational system and its outcomes. Additionally, he proposed an initiative to provide medical treatment for the injured in the Gaza Strip in the hospitals of Jerusalem.
In his intervention, Dr. Maher Awwad pointed to the geographical distribution of Jerusalem’s institutions between East and West Jerusalem, as well as those inside and outside the wall. He mentioned that there are 45 Waqf-run schools in Jerusalem. He also noted that the MoH’s teams used to provide examinations and vaccinations for school students. However, over the last six years, these teams have been prevented from offering their health services because of the occupation’s practices.
In his turn, Mr. Abdelqader Al-Husseini stated that, in his opinion, adopting a hybrid curriculum policy is essentially an unjustified form of surrender. A significant portion of the people (38%) who live in Jerusalem are Palestinians, with one-third living outside the wall, he added. In the context of confronting the Israeli occupation’s plans, this population block must play a major role in shaping the national project. Al-Husseini outlined that Israel is targeting the Palestinian identity through teaching a falsified or distorted curriculum. He called for adhering to the Palestinian curriculum and rejecting the non-Palestinian one. He also emphasized the need to ensure teachers’ salaries are fully paid without any deductions and to organize workers in these sectors, especially regarding unions. Al-Husseini stated that what applies to education also applies to healthcare in this discussion. He urged that the Teachers’ Union play a more effective role, as the responsibility rests with everyone.
Attendees unanimously agreed on the importance of this issue, stressing the need for careful consideration, given its strategic nature. They also stressed on the need to reconsider the recommendations, based on the current diagnosis. The participants called for putting efforts to mobilize funds, and for the establishment of institutions that could bypass the civil and military administration in Jerusalem.