This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/world/middleeast/hamas-imposes-new-restrictions-on-schools-in-gaza.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hamas Imposes New Restrictions on Schools Hamas Adds Restrictions On Schools And Israelis
(about 1 hour later)
GAZA — Hamas, the Islamic group that rules this Palestinian territory, has issued a new education law enforcing a more rigid separation of sexes in schools and prohibiting any relations with Israelis, in line with its strictly religious and nationalist ideology, officials said Monday.GAZA — Hamas, the Islamic group that rules this Palestinian territory, has issued a new education law enforcing a more rigid separation of sexes in schools and prohibiting any relations with Israelis, in line with its strictly religious and nationalist ideology, officials said Monday.
Critics here view the law, which mandates separate classes for boys and girls from the age of 9 and bars male staff members from working at girls’ schools, as the latest in a series of moves by Hamas meant to impose a more Islamic lifestyle on the people of Gaza. Hamas has already made efforts to impose Islamic dress on schoolgirls, among other things. Critics here view the law, which mandates separate classes for boys and girls from the age of 9 and bars men from working at girls’ schools, as the latest move by Hamas to impose a more Islamic lifestyle on the people of Gaza. Hamas has already made efforts to impose Islamic dress on schoolgirls, among other things.
Yousef Al-Sherafi, a Hamas lawmaker and a member of the education committee, said in a telephone interview, “This law is a safety valve for our national principles.” Yousef Al-Sherafi, a Hamas lawmaker and a member of the education committee, said in an interview, “This law is a safety valve for our national principles.”
Regarding the ban on male teachers in girls’ schools, Mr. Sherafi said, “One male staffer among 20 female teachers in a girls’ school would not allow our sisters to feel comfortable.” Mr. Sherafi said, “One male staffer among 20 female teachers in a girls’ school would not allow our sisters to feel comfortable.”
According to a copy of the 18-page law, it is intended to build the nationalist character of the students and prepare them to be “committed to the Palestinian, Arab and Islamic culture.” The document also says the law is meant to encourage pupils “to get to know Palestine with its historic borders, its history and its connection with its milieus.” It is scheduled to go into effect at the beginning of the new school year in September. According to a copy of the 18-page law, it is intended to build the nationalist character of the students and prepare them to be “committed to the Palestinian, Arab and Islamic culture.” It says the law is meant to encourage pupils “to get to know Palestine with its historic borders, its history and its connection with its milieus.” It is set to go into effect at the start of the new school year in September.
In reality, given the conservative nature of Gaza society, boys and girls over the age of 9 are already separated in most government schools and schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which assists Palestinian refugees and their descendants. The new gender separation rules are mostly expected to affect about a dozen private and Christian schools. In reality, given the conservative nature of Gaza society, boys and girls over the age of 9 are already separated in most government schools and schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which assists Palestinian refugees and their descendants. The new separation rules are mostly expected to affect about a dozen private and Christian schools.
The law maintains the freedom of Christian schools to teach non-Muslim students subjects related to their religion.The law maintains the freedom of Christian schools to teach non-Muslim students subjects related to their religion.
But it stipulates that any educational institution that receives aid meant to encourage or promote normalization of ties with Israel will face punishment: a 10-year prison term for an individual perpetrator and a fine of 20,000 Jordanian dinar (about $28,200) for any institution involved in organizing exchange programs or activities that include Israelis.But it stipulates that any educational institution that receives aid meant to encourage or promote normalization of ties with Israel will face punishment: a 10-year prison term for an individual perpetrator and a fine of 20,000 Jordanian dinar (about $28,200) for any institution involved in organizing exchange programs or activities that include Israelis.
That rule is also unlikely to affect most institutions here. Since Israel restricts the movement of Palestinians in and out of Gaza as part of its policy of isolating the Hamas government, hardly any schools or organizations are involved in such activities.That rule is also unlikely to affect most institutions here. Since Israel restricts the movement of Palestinians in and out of Gaza as part of its policy of isolating the Hamas government, hardly any schools or organizations are involved in such activities.
Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, a year after winning Palestinian elections and after months of bloody factional fighting here between Hamas and Fatah, the secularist party headed by Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority whose influence is now limited to the West Bank. Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, a year after winning Palestinian elections and after months of bloody factional fighting here between Hamas and Fatah, the secularist party headed by Mahmoud Abbas. The influence of Mr. Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, is now limited to the West Bank.
The Palestinian Parliament, which is split between the two Palestinian territories, has been paralyzed for the past six years, but Hamas legislators in Gaza have continued to hold their own sessions, passing legislation and resolutions that only apply in the coastal enclave. The Palestinian Parliament, which is split between the two Palestinian territories, has been paralyzed for six years, but Hamas legislators in Gaza have continued to hold sessions, passing bills and resolutions that apply only in the coastal enclave.
In a separate development, Hamas has assigned Khaled Meshal, the longtime political leader of the Islamic militant group, to a third term as chief of its political bureau, a Hamas official in Gaza said Monday. In a separate development, Hamas has assigned Khaled Meshal, 56, to a third term as chief of its political bureau, a Hamas official in Gaza said Monday. The decision was taken at the group’s Shura Council meeting in Cairo, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because it not yet been announced.
The decision was taken at the end of the group’s two-day Shura Council meeting in Cairo, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the organization had not yet officially announced the appointment. The deliberations of the Shura Council, the group’s highest decision-making body, are held in secret.
Mr. Meshal, 56, has led the politburo since 1996. Last year, Hamas announced that he wished to step down, and the official in Gaza said that Mr. Meshal had reiterated that wish at the start of the meeting on Sunday. But, he added, most members of the Shura Council decided that Mr. Meshal should stay on, and decisions of the council are binding.
People familiar with the inner workings of the group said earlier that Egypt, Turkey and Qatar had signaled to Mr. Meshal that this was not the right time for him to quit, given the continuing turmoil in the Middle East and Mr. Meshal’s role in reconciliation talks with Mr. Abbas, the leader of the Fatah movement that rivals Hamas.