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Israel opens school in mainly Palestinian East Jerusalem

Israel has for the first time opened a school for Palestinians in the heart of East Jerusalem, shedding light on the state of the education system in that part of the city and raising concerns of Israeli encroachment in a predominantly Palestinian area.
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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — In an unprecedented move, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat on Sept. 4. inaugurated an Israeli-run public school in the heart of predominantly Arab East Jerusalem, near Herod's Gate. The Ula Primary School for Boys and Girls replaces what had once been a Palestinian-run school at that location. Barkat posted a video on Facebook from the opening day, which included a Palestinian girl delivering a welcome speech in Hebrew and other Palestinian students singing songs in Hebrew.

Barkat describes the new school as the “first primary school for Jerusalem students who wish to study for the Israeli bagrut [matriculation exam] early on.” He said the school, housed in a single building, has 15 classrooms for 290 Palestinian students in grades 1-8. 

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