Mr. Yasser Amro Condemns Israeli Arbitrary Actions Against Palestinian Schools,                      and Against Islam and Christianity

July 13, 1997

The Minister of Education, Mr. Yasser Amro, condemned the continuous Israeli provocation against Palestinian schools, especially the positioning of Israeli soldiers on roof-tops of schools, as that constitutes a serious threat to students' lives.

Many pupils were severely injured in the head, and in their eyes, which result in disabilities. Murad Jamjum a 13 years old student at Al-Shafi'i Boys School ( 7th grade) was urgently operated on for the removal of a rubber bullet with metallic cylinder in side the rubber; the size of the rubber is 2cm x 1.5 cm. He was in a coma with indotracted tube when he arrived to Al- Ahli Hospital in Hebron. His brain was exude out of the skull with severe bleeding and skull bone defect in the right partial area, and he was suffering from hemiplegia.

The bullet caused multiple skull fraction with bone defect 2 x 2 cm, and severe damage ( laceration, crush) of the brain, with internal capsule damage. Murad regained consciousness 5 days after the surgery , but he is presently suffering from hemiplegia. He needs intensive physiotherapy care and later on cranioplasty.

At Al-Yakoubieh Basic School for Girls, in Hebron, and within the area still under Israeli Occupation, there are continuous violations and provocations by Israeli snipers, soldiers and settlers alike, who are climbing on the roof-top, and have changed the school into something similar to a military base. This has caused several injuries and death. At the same time, Israeli soldiers are forcing the school principal to stay there and to leave only when they allow her.

There has been several threats to close the school. Israelis are not denying the fact that they are trying to evict all Palestinians living near the by-pass road. In the case of Al-Yakoubieh Basic School for Girls, the Israelis want them evicted from the side of by-pass road number 60.

Just recently, Israeli soldiers raided Al-Yakoubieh School in Hebron, on the pretext that there were demonstrations going on the neighborhood. Israeli soldiers desecrated five copies of the Koran, and stepped on them with their shoes.

Settlers in Hebron distributed posters insulting to the prophet Mohammed, the Koran, and Islam as a whole. The poster depicted a pig with an Arab head-dress holding a pen and writing on the Koran. Galilio Hebrew Magazine also showed a picture of Lady Mary with the head of a cow, and has caused strong condemnation from Moslem and Christian leaders alike.

Both Moslem and Christian leaders consider the desecration of religious symbols as a clear act of disrespect, despite the claim that religions are respected. Such irresponsible actions, threaten with the possibility of escalating the situation.

Such Israeli actions constitute a violation of the Plestinians' right to education, and a violation of the peace agreements. The Ministry of Education has sent an urgent letter to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, asking for immediate support to end the Israeli violations.

Moreover, the Israeli decision to impose the Israeli curriculum on Palestinian students in Jerusalem has caused a great deal of condemnation. It is a decision that must be stopped. According to the 4th Geneva Convention, the education and cultural aspects of a nation must be respected by the occupying force. The Israeli decision is a serious violation of a basic right of Jerusalemites, and comes under the category of ethnic cleansing.

The General Union of Teachers also issued a statement strongly condemning the Israeli decision in Jerusalem, and called on all the international unions to stand on the side of Palestinian rights in Jerusalem. The statement emphasized the right of Palestinians to learn according to curriculum determined by the Palestinian Authority. It is therefore the right of Palestinians to reject any alien curriculum that might be imposed.

Mr. Yasser Amro, the Palestinian Minister of Education, is calling for an international condemnation of Israeli violations of school premises, attempts to impose the alien curriculum, continuous acts against students and most importantly the desecration of religious symbols inside the schools and elsewhere.

Minister of Education

Yaser Amro

Tel.: +972 2 998 32 54

Fax: +972 2 998 3222

Email: kmoe@planet.edu