The Role of Christian Schools in Jerusalem (1967–2025): A Study on Identity, Cultural Resilience, and the Challenges of Systematic Israelization
| dc.contributor.author | Daoud Kassabri | |
| dc.contributor.author | Nazmi Abu Hlayyel | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-08-09T10:02:51Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-08-09T10:02:51Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-06-19 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study investigates the educational and national role of Christian schools in Jerusalem between 1967 and 2025, analyzing their current standing amidst funding crises and policies of systematic Israelization. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the researchers gathered quantitative data through two surveys distributed to a sample of teachers (n = 84) and alumni (n = 94). Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with eight school principals (n = 8) and analyzed using Grounded Theory. The findings reveal that Christian schools play a significant role in fostering values of coexistence (mean = 4.23) and constructing a Palestinian national identity among both students and graduates. Furthermore, the study identifies a severe funding gap; while official claims suggest that the occupation authorities provide 65% of operating budgets, the actual support ranges only between 40% and 60%. The study characterizes this discrepancy as a form of "soft financial colonialism." Qualitative analysis further uncovered "circumventive pedagogical strategies" employed by educational staff to bolster the school’s role in resisting the removal of national content from the curricula. The study recommends the establishment of an independent endowment fund to support education in Jerusalem and ensure educational sovereignty. It also emphasizes the need to activate alumni networks as a means of safeguarding the city’s cultural heritage. | |
| dc.identifier.other | 1157-2026-PS | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.alquds.edu/handle/20.500.12213/10729 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Center for Jerusalem Studies - Al-Quds University | |
| dc.title | The Role of Christian Schools in Jerusalem (1967–2025): A Study on Identity, Cultural Resilience, and the Challenges of Systematic Israelization | |
| dc.type | Article |