Labour8/16/2026

Education Ministry Begins Enforcing Ban on Hiring Teaching Staff With Degrees From the Palestinian Authority

Israel’s Ministry of Education has instructed its districts and human resources units not to employ teaching staff who hold academic degrees from higher education institutions affiliated with the Palestinian Authority. The directives implement a law passed by the Knesset, but allow a special permit to be obtained in certain cases.

Key facts

•The Knesset passed the law in January
•The ban concerns the employment of teaching staff and teaching licenses
•Exceptions are reviewed by a committee attached to the ministry’s director general
•The deadline for appealing a rejection is 21 days
•The petition against the law remains pending before the High Court of Justice

What Changed

The ban applies to employment as a teaching staff member and to granting a teaching license to graduates of higher education institutions in the West Bank. The Knesset passed the law in January at the initiative of Likud Knesset members Amit Halevi and Avichai Boaron. It amends the State Education Law and the Supervision of Schools Law.

When an Exception May Be Obtained

A person holding a degree from an institution affiliated with the Palestinian Authority may submit an application if they also hold an additional bachelor’s degree from a recognized Israeli higher education institution and a teaching certificate from an Israeli institution for training teaching staff. The application is forwarded through the district’s human resources unit to the advisory committee attached to the ministry’s director general. The candidate must submit documents proving their education and explain why they should be employed despite having studied in the Palestinian Authority.

Rejection and Appeal

The director general of the Ministry of Education grants the special permit. If the director general refuses to grant the permit or revokes a permit that was previously granted, the decision may be appealed to the minister of education within 21 days of the date on which notice is given.

Challenge to the Law Before the High Court of Justice

A petition has been filed against the law, and the proceedings have not yet concluded. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel and other petitioners are seeking to have the ban struck down and have requested an interim order suspending its entry into force until the petition is decided. The petitioners also include the Follow-Up Committee on Arab Education, former Knesset member and attorney Youssef al-Atawneh, the Negev Coexistence Forum, Ir Amim, the Workers’ Organization WAC-MAAN, and Itach-Maaki.

What this means for you

For a candidate who obtained an academic degree from an institution affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, that degree may now prevent their employment in Israel’s education system or their receipt of a teaching license. An exception is possible only subject to meeting the specified conditions and obtaining special approval. However, the ban’s ultimate legal fate may depend on the decision in the petition pending before the High Court of Justice.

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