A Traditional Dress Tribute
CrossFireArabia- September 2, 2026
Painter Maher Naji is from Jabalia in north Gaza.
Christian Schools Strike in Jerusalem. Why?
- CrossFireArabia
- August 31, 2026
All Christian schools in Jerusalem announced Monday evening that they will suspend classes starting Tuesday after Israel failed to renew entry permits for more than 70 teachers and staff, preventing them from reaching their schools.
The new academic year in Israel and Jerusalem is scheduled to begin Tuesday.
In a statement, the Christian schools in Jerusalem said that as they prepared to open for the 2026-2027 academic year, they were surprised by the “failure to renew entry permits for more than 70 teachers and employees from our educational, administrative and support staff, suddenly and without prior warning.”
They said the failure to renew the permits prevented the teachers and employees from reaching their schools and directly affected preparations for the start of the academic year.
The absence of such a large number of staff affects various aspects of school operations, including educational, administrative and health services, as well as cleaning and security and safety measures, the statement said.
The schools said the situation “makes it impossible to ensure a safe and stable start” to the academic year for students.
Following consultations and coordination with relevant parties, parents’ representatives and Jerusalem schools, they decided to suspend classes beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1.
The suspension will continue “until the necessary permits for teachers and employees are reissued and renewed, ensuring that the educational process proceeds safely and properly,” they added.
The schools stressed their commitment to students’ right to education, warning that repeated measures of this kind “undermine the stability of our schools and hinder their ability to fulfill their mission,” while negatively affecting students, their families and educational staff.
They called for the crisis to be resolved as soon as possible and for the permits to be renewed to allow students and staff to return to schools and the academic year to proceed normally.
Separately, Munther Isaac, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, condemned the Israeli measure.
“Israel’s pressure on the Christian presence in Jerusalem continues,” Isaac said on US social media company X.
“Christian schools in the city are going on strike because Israel refuses to issue permits to their West Bank teachers,” he added.
Since October 2023, Israel has restricted entry permits for Palestinian workers from the occupied West Bank, including teachers, coinciding with the start of the genocidal war in the Gaza Strip. Anadolu
Inside The Home of A Musician, 1940
- CrossFireArabia
- August 31, 2026
From Palestinian Heritage
This photograph documents a historical snapshot from inside the home of the Jerusalemite musician and historian Wasfi Jawhariya in Jerusalem in 1940.
The interior design of the room showcases a rich and diverse collection of oriental artifacts, ornate wooden furniture, luxurious carpets, and traditional weapons hanging on the walls.
The objects and dishes displayed on the shelves reflect the lifestyle and cultural heritage of that era, giving it a unique chrarcter.
Due to the events of the 1948 Nakba and the subsequent occupation, the home Wasfi Jawhariya (located in the Al-Naqfuriya neighborhood in West Jerusalem) suffered the same fate as many historical properties in the area as Jawhariya and his family were forced to leave their home under the duress of war and sought refuge in Beirut, where he spent the rest of his life until his death in 1972.
The property was confiscated after the family left. As for the rare heritage collections, artifacts, musical instruments, and precious items shown in the picture, most of them were looted and lost as a result of the war and displacement.
Pupils From The Bishop’s School, Jerusalem
Heba
- August 30, 2026
These are the pupils from the St. George’s Evangelical School for Boys (Bishop’s School). Founded in Jerusalem in 1899 by British clergy, it was one of the most important private schools established by European and American missions in Palestine during the second half of the 19th century. Initially, it enrolled the sons of Palestinian Protestant families. Later, before World War I, increasing numbers of Muslim students enrolled in this and other mission schools. In this photograph are the school’s students and teaching staff. On the far left (standing) is Mr. Shibli al-Jamal, from a Palestinian Protestant family, who was a member of the first Palestinian delegation to London in 1921. Colorization by Hussam Abu Farha
A Jerusalem Wedding, 1945
- August 26, 2026
From Palestinian Heritage:
This historic photograph documents the wedding of Ruth Raad, daughter of prominent Palestinian photographer Khalil Raad, to Robert Meshbek in Jerusalem in 1945. The wedding ceremony took place at the Russian Trinity Church in Jerusalem. The photograph shows the bride in a traditional white wedding dress with a wreath of flowers in her hair, alongside the groom and guests.
