Israeli officials are accusing the United Nations of attempting to block the construction of a school for Palestinian children in East Jerusalem, alleging that the organization is prioritizing its political disputes with Israel over the welfare of students. Crews are expected to begin construction on a 22-acre site in the Kafr Aqab neighborhood, a densely populated area of East Jerusalem, with the goal of opening the campus at the start of the school year on September 1.
According to Israeli officials, the UN is preparing to condemn Israel for expelling UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, from the property. This move by Israel follows allegations that UNRWA workers in Gaza participated in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. Israeli officials argue that the UN's opposition to the school project indicates a focus on preserving UNRWA's presence rather than supporting Palestinian children's education. "They’re choosing politics over Palestinian children," one Israeli official stated, adding that the UN "should be opening doors for children, not keeping school gates closed for political reasons."
The planned educational campus and community center are intended to serve approximately 22,000 local residents. Israeli officials highlighted that many children in the overcrowded neighborhood face commutes of two to three hours each way due to a scarcity of nearby classrooms. The facility is slated to initially accommodate over 140 boys in grades seven through 10, with plans for expansion to grade 12 in subsequent years.
The site in question is a large, largely unused UNRWA compound situated within a densely populated area. Israeli officials contend that UNRWA has maintained only a small vocational training center there and has blocked previous redevelopment proposals since 2022, despite the severe shortage of educational facilities in Kafr Aqab.
UNRWA has previously accused Israeli municipal officials of entering the facility, identified as the Kalandia Training Center, and has warned of an "unlawful seizure." The agency argued that losing the site would impact hundreds of Palestinian refugees seeking vocational education and cited an International Court of Justice opinion obligating Israel to protect UN property.
Israeli officials dispute UNRWA's claim of ownership, asserting that the land was purchased by the Jewish National Fund in 1937. They state that Jordan only granted UNRWA permission to operate a training center there after 1948 without transferring ownership. Israel maintains that the East Jerusalem municipality is reclaiming land that has always remained under Israeli ownership.