The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), Scotland's largest
teaching union, has joined with two other education trade unions,
in writing to the Foreign Secretary to raise concerns over a
recent international delegation, including the EIS President,
being blocked from entering Palestine on an educational visit.
The EIS, National Education Union (NEU), and University &
College Union (UCU) are calling on the UK Government to raise
these concerns with their Israeli counterparts, and to seek
assurances that any similar future educational delegations will
not be denied entry to Palestine.
The letter to Foreign Secretary states, “We write as senior
leaders in our respective UK education trade unions to protest in
the strongest possible terms about our treatment by Israeli
border and military personnel as we sought to enter
Israel/Palestine via the Jordanian border.”
“We were part of a 15-strong high-level mission of global
education trade unionists coordinated by Education International
(EI), the global education unions' federation. The mission was
due to visit the West Bank to join the General Union of
Palestinian Teachers (GUPT) for celebration events to mark UNESCO
International Day of Education on 24 January.”
“The entire mission was stopped at the border and held for five
hours. Our passports were confiscated, our phones searched and we
were questioned at length by the Israeli military. The questions
went far beyond the itinerary and purpose of our intended visit
to the West Bank but included our personal political views and
affiliations…we were not allowed to cross the border into
Israel/Palestine and were finally returned to Jordan.”
“You will be acutely aware of the situation facing educators and
the education system in Palestine and the reason why we felt it
so important, as sister education unions, to demonstrate our
solidarity with our Palestinian colleagues on the International
Day of Education.”
“In Gaza, 95% of schools have been damaged or destroyed and all
universities demolished. Over 20,000 children and young people,
and hundreds of educators, were killed in the recent war with
thousands more left with life-changing injuries.”
“Our trade union organisations will continue to raise the plight
of Palestinian children, students, educators and trade unionists.
We hope we can rely on the UK Government to do the same.”
A copy of the full letter to the Foreign Secretary is attached,
for information.
