Several days after the end of the Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip, and with the escalation of attacks by settlers and ministers of the occupation government against Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the people of Jerusalem, the Rosary Sisters School in Jerusalem witnessed an unprecedented threatening development, which brings the issue of “Israelization of education” in Jerusalem back to the forefront.

The event began yesterday afternoon, Thursday, during a graduation ceremony for the school’s students, at its headquarters in Beit Hanina. During one of the segments presented by the students, one of the students raised the Zionist flag, amidst a state of shock and astonishment from the students’ families, who rushed to reject this scene. Within a few minutes, dozens of Jerusalemites flocked to the school and began a popular sit-in, during which they initially demanded the dismissal of Ibrahim Faltas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Church Schools, and the dismissal of Sir Lucy, Director of the Rosary Sisters School. Then the demands developed to include others related to the school’s general policies.

The administration of the Rosary Sisters School tried to justify what happened through several narratives, including the school’s issuance of a statement in which it said that what happened was a segment in a play representing “The Clash of Civilizations,” but there are many question marks surrounding what happened and its truth. According to eyewitnesses from inside the school, it was found that “Lara Mbariki,” the head of the education department in the municipality, was among those present at the graduation ceremony, which may indicate that the “flag-raising dance” was to please her.

In response to what happened at the school, social media was abuzz with anger and discontent among the popular Jerusalemite and Palestinian circles, and several statements were issued rejecting and condemning what happened there. The Palestinian Ministry of Education confirmed in a statement that what happened at the school was an unacceptable event that was in line with the occupation, and said that it would take the necessary measures to protect the national narrative of education in Jerusalem.

The Higher Committee for National and Popular Action in Jerusalem called on the Rosary Sisters School to apologize to the Palestinian people, review its recent policies, and reverse the concessions made by the school, the latest of which was its approval to introduce the Israeli curriculum, as well as to take punitive measures against the person responsible for these activities in accordance with the applicable regulations.

The Coordination Council for Education in Jerusalem called on the administration of the Rosary Sisters Schools to issue a clear and explicit apology and take deterrent punitive measures against those responsible for organizing this event, calling on teachers to assume their leadership and educational role and reject these activities, bear national and moral responsibility, and be keen on national activities that reject normalization.

At the same time, a group of Jerusalem activists and families of students from the Rosary Sisters School gave the school administration until Saturday to respond to their demands. The text of the demand, a copy of which was obtained by the Jerusalem Agency, reads:


After watching the videos that were published on social media and after examining the event, a group of the best young men of Jerusalem, including all segments of the Jerusalemite society in all its categories, headed to the school. After a meeting with the school administration, the following was agreed upon:


First: Everyone who played a role in coordinating this unpatriotic play must be held accountable.

Second: The “Bagrut” program in the school will be stopped starting from the next academic year, and any parent who wants their children to study the Bagrut program should send them to another school.