Palestinian Teachers’ Strike Grows, Reflecting Deepening Crisis

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Facts

  • In one of the longest teachers’ strikes in recent memory, Palestinian public schools in the West Bank have been closed since Feb. 5 as teachers call for a pay raise from the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority (PA).1
  • Teachers have also called for a democratically-elected union, but the PA has yet to accommodate the teachers' demands, fearing its rivals — like Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip — could use their movement against the PA's ruling Fatah party.1
  • Teachers across the West Bank usually have salaries of about $830 a month — considerably less than other professions requiring a comparable education. Additionally, the PA slashed the income of government employees by 20% to cope with a budget shortfall in late 2021.2
  • Palestinian Pres. Mahmoud Abbas has blamed striking teachers for holding around 1M children hostage to demands for better pay, however, teachers claim they have no other choices.2
  • Last week, the PA announced that it had agreed to return all amounts deducted from the salaries of teachers who had been on strike. They also said they would implement the 15% bonus, but the striking teachers rejected the proposal, saying that the strike would continue until all of their demands are met.3
  • Last year, the UN Conference on Trade and Development warned that the Palestinian Territories were facing the worst fiscal crisis in their history — largely due to unpredictable employment conditions, a decrease in international aid, the COVID pandemic, and economic barriers imposed by Israel.4

Sources: 1Associated Press, 2The Times of Israel, 3Middle East Monitor, and 4VOA.

Narratives

  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Israel should stop working with the corrupt, terror-supporting, and autocratic Palestinian Authority, as it has done nothing to advance peace in the Holy Land. PA leaders live cushy lives while their subjects in the West Bank continue to suffer economic austerity. Instead of supporting the Palestinians, the corrupt PA steals money and finances terrorism.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by The New Arab. Though there are plenty of Israeli commentators that call for ending Israel's relationship with the PA, in reality, the PA is an integral part of Israel's occupation and colonial endeavors. It is certainly true that the PA is corrupt and autocratic, but it is ultimately Israel that has propped it up. Indeed, Mahmoud Abbas is a collaborator against his own people, and it is no surprise that he will happily let Palestinians starve to ensure his position of power.