Exclusive | UN trying to block construction of much-needed school for Palestinian kids, Israeli officials say: Choosing politics over children

WASHINGTON — The United Nations is trying to block the construction of a much-needed school for desperate Palestinian kids at an empty UNRWA compound, according to Israeli officials — who are accusing the organization of putting politics ahead of children.Crews are expected to move into a 22-acre site in the densely populated east Jerusalem neighborhood of Kafr Aqab in the coming days to start construction of the campus, so it can welcome students when the school year begins on Sept.1, Israeli officials told The Post.However, the officials say the UN is preparing to condemn the Jewish state for removing UNRWA — the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees — from the property.The officials believe the UN is fighting Israel’s 2025 decision to expel UNRWA from the country after allegations that workers for the mission in Gaza participated in the Oct.

7, 2023 attacks — even if that means opposing a project they say will benefit Palestinian children.“They’re choosing politics over Palestinian children,” one Israeli official told The Post, arguing that the UN is more interested in preserving UNRWA’s footprint in Israel than allowing new schools to be built for Arab students.“When politics comes before children, the UN has lost sight of its most basic responsibility.The UN should be opening doors for children, not keeping school gates closed for political reasons,” the person addedMore than 140 boys are already enrolled for grades seven through 10, with the school expected to expand through grade 12 in future years.

Officials say the broader educational campus and planned community center will eventually serve roughly 22,000 local residents.The project is aimed at one of Jerusalem’s most overcrowded Arab neighborhoods, where Israeli officials say many children spend two to three hours commuting each way because there aren’t enough classrooms nearby.The sprawling compound sits like a giant green island in the middle of one...