Occupied Jerusalem: Thousands of people rallied on Sunday in occupied Jerusalem to demand more funds for Palestinian Christian schools, which they say receive a third of what the Israeli government allocates to Jewish ones.
The 47 Christian schools that operate in territories claimed by the regime have been on strike since the academic year started last week, with parents and school officials accusing the government of discrimination in funding their establishments.
Palestinian Christians in Israel are native Palestinians who were not forced to leave their homes when the Israeli regime was established in Palestine in 1948.
Schools officials said the strike will end only when the Israeli authorities meet their demands.
The strike affects 33,000 pupils — 60 per cent of them Christian and the others Muslim — as well as 3,000 staff.
“If you care, then be fair,” said one of the signs held up at the protest outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office which was attended by students in uniforms, parents and school officials.
“We pay our taxes and therefore we must have the same rights as everyone,” said Manal Eisa, a mother who came with her two children.
Abdul Massih Fahim, a Franciscan priest and director of the Catholic church’s Custody of the Holy Land, which oversees the Christian schools, said state funds only cover 29 per cent of costs.
But Wadie Abu Nassar, another school official, said Jewish schools recognised by the state but not considered official public schools receive funds that cover 100 per cent of their needs.
“We demand equal treatment,” said Abu Nassar.
Up until two years ago, Christian schools in Israel received 65 per cent of their budgets from the regime, with parents paying the balance, but that figure was cut to 34 per cent two years ago.
Now parents have to put up the difference, in what has become a financial burden for many who had been relying on private donations and state subsidies to provide their children with an education.
“We are demanding that the state give us 200 million shekels [Dh186.38 million] per year,” to make up the difference and cover our costs, said Abu Nassar.
A dozen Palestinian members of Israel’s parliament also joined Sunday’s demonstration as armed police stood guard.
