Action:

Contact officials in the US and Israeli governments appealing for support for the education of Palestinian children.

Background:

With the belief that Palestinian children like all other children of the world have the right to an education in an environment that is safe and conducive to learning, the Palestinian Ministry of Education is appealing for help in securing the success of the forthcoming academic year. Appeals may be made to the U.S. and Israeli governments.

Besides the threat on the lives of students and teachers accompanied with the destruction of schools and educational institutions, the gravest concern remains the policy of continuous curfew and tight closures with all the inherent restrictions it creates on the movement of people and goods within Palestinian areas.

Supporters in international institutions and partners in the development of the education system should stress the following priorities for sustaining the education process:

1. Providing protection to Palestinian civilians especially children.

2. Urging Israel to lift the curfews and the closures imposed on Palestinian areas to permit students, teachers, and employees to have access to their schools and universities.

3. Stopping the destruction of the educational infrastructure, including schools, universities, and district offices.

4. Providing cash assistance to poor and needy families to provide for food, medical care and to secure their children's schooling.

5. Providing continuous budget support to the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

6. Supporting the repair of infrastructure assets damaged by the Israeli forces.

Contact Information:

To contact your representatives and elected officials: use http://congress.cfl-online.org/

For more information, contact www.jmcc.org/new/02/aug/edu.htm

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