Between challenges, non-recognition and Judaization – students from the occupied Palestinian interior insist on their right to education

Bethlehem - Together - Younis Jaafra - Students from the occupied Palestinian territories apply annually to enroll in Palestinian universities in the West Bank. While the high school results showed varying degrees, and despite the availability of Israeli universities close to their areas of residence, the students' choice of others, such as the University of Bethlehem, was a result of the restrictions and racist obstacles to which the Palestinian student is exposed. Farah Zidan, from Iblin, the occupied Galilee District, is one of the nursing students at Bethlehem University, located in the center of the city. He explains the reasons for choosing it by saying that he graduated from high school at the age of 24 because of his work for 5 years in first aid, and he did not want to introduce the Israeli 'psychometrics' so as not to waste time on it. 'Psychometrics' is the admission exam to Israeli universities, which is of great importance for admission at a rate of 70%, and the remaining 30% depends on 'matric ulation' or the ministry's exams in Israel. Palestinian students are exposed to clear racial discrimination between themselves and Jewish students. The university lecturer in 'sociology' at the University of Bethlehem, 'Arabiya Mansour,' indicated that Arab students obtain high marks in the 'psychometric' exam, but she finds restrictions imposed by Israel due to the structure of the exam based on Jewish culture, which is in the interest of the Jewish student at the expense of the Arab. Where the difference between them reaches 100 points; It becomes difficult for the points collected by the student to reach more than 650 points out of 800. This does not allow him to enter the exact sciences specializations such as medicine, pharmacy, and other specializations. Mansour explained that this matter comes due to the lack and weakness of investment in Arab students, which does not exceed 20%. Also, the language and culture barrier is an obstacle to entry into Israeli universities and an incentive at the same time to enter Palestinian universities. Among the specialties that are most in demand are therapeutic medical specialties. Zidane added in his reasons for attending Bethlehem University that the importance of having diversity in the courses taught at the university, and creating a great state of awareness for the Palestinian student about his cause and various issues are the most important encouragements to study and benefit from them, in addition to shortening the time in entering the university because the Palestinian universities do not need the applicant to register. In which he holds a psychometric certificate; He applied to study at Bethlehem University in 2019 and was immediately accepted. It is worth noting that there are many specializations that Israel refuses to recognize in Palestinian universities, in addition to rejecting the university certificate as a whole. Zidane's choice of nursing specialty is due to his acceptance of Sharia law in the "Israeli system." Lecturer Arbia Mansour confirmed that the Israeli Council of Higher Education has realized and paid attention to the issue of Palestinian universities attracting students with blue IDs. He recently sent an indirect threatening message to the University of Bethlehem and other universities and institutes. Its content includes that the University of Bethlehem stop field training for both the social work and nursing specializations in Jerusalem and field application work in the areas of authority, considering Palestine a foreign country to Israel. This happened after the deal of the century; Perhaps it will succeed in attracting students to Israeli universities. Arab students with Israeli citizenship live in difficult situations and challenges after completing high school to enter Israeli universities, between accepting the status quo and studying with double effort to obtain a score of 469 out of 800, which is the mark of success in the psychometric exam, despite the impossible policies imposed by the Ministry of Education. The Israeli government i mposes restrictions on Arab students, including limiting admission seats to Arab students to very few numbers. Or enroll in Palestinian universities in the West Bank to obtain the dignity and entitlement to education despite the difficulty of transportation and the remoteness of the region. Source: Maan News Agency