Israel’s withdrawal of Jerusalem schools’ licences violation of int’l law — Kanaan

AMMAN — Secretary General of the Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs Abdullah Kanaan on Tuesday said that Israel has recently withdrawn the licences of six schools in Jersualem, replacing them with temporary licences, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Israeli measure paves way for closing these schools and displacing their students, constituting “a clear violation of international law”, he said. 

He noted that Article 50 of the Geneva Convention signed in 1949 stipulates that the “Occupying Power shall, with the cooperation of the national and local authorities, facilitate the proper working of all institutions devoted to the care and education of children”.

Since its resolution in 1948 on Palestine, UNESCO stressed the right to education for Palestinians, he said, highlighting that organisation’s 1974 resolution urgently appealed to Israel not to deprive residents of the occupied Arab territories their right to education and culture.

Education and culture are fundamental foundations for preserving the Palestinian Jerusalemite identity, and that Israel should not historically, legally and humanitarianly attack them in any way under any alleged pretexts, he stressed. 

Based on the historical Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, Jordan continues supporting education in Jerusalem under Royal directives and initiatives, he affirmed.