Teachers' strike... A crisis of failure confirms the need for change

Written by: Jamal Zaqout

The government's failure to formulate a logical solution that responds to the teachers' fair demands clearly shows either its turning its back on these real demands, or its inability to achieve that. Where it refrained from implementing the increase in the allowance for the nature of the work, the “profession”, and so that it would start to take effect retroactively from the beginning of this year, and in an attempt to circumvent this agreement and under the pressure of the strike, the government announced its willingness to increase by only 5%, provided that all allowances are studied, including Other government professions within the framework of the Civil Service Law, which the teachers did not accept, as they considered it an attempt to circumvent their demands and the agreement signed, announced and previously approved by the government.

The teachers had organized a mass demonstration in the city of Ramallah during the month of February, in which thousands, if not tens of thousands, participated, which reflects the strength of their rally around their demands and the movement that leads their movement, and this also shows the extent of popular support for these demands in the face of attempts to incite against teachers and hold them accountable. Responsibility for disrupting the educational process. However, this did not affect the families of the students, and the rest of the society groups that suffer from similar crises.

After the Ministry of Finance procrastinated in adhering to what the government announced again, and as it was said by “presidential directives through the director of the Authority’s intelligence,” to delineate the agreed-upon bonus, i. Procrastinate and try to get around it. In the absence of trust and constructive dialogue, the teachers continued their strike, and the data indicates that additional numbers have joined the strike, especially since their previous salaries have been deducted. Yesterday, Monday, they also organized a protest demonstration and a central sit-in, gathering in a remarkable and unprecedented way in front of the Council of Ministers.

It is with great regret that the government has shown its failure to deal with this crisis over and over again, and it was not helped by seeking help from the security forces, nor by the reprehensible appeals through mosque loudspeakers, simply because this crisis, like others, has shaken confidence and dropped the credibility of the government, which unfortunately abandoned its position and powers, and became applicable to it like “Watch what you see.” This is what happened and is happening in the crisis of the judiciary and the fundamental change that affected its independence, and it is what happened and is happening with the crises that accumulate daily, and put the power in one valley and the people in another valley.

The need for change and unity

Patchwork treatments for these accumulated crises limit the danger of a popular explosion at any moment, at a time when we as a people need to close ranks and prevent a descent into a state of chaos, not through verbal promises, and the continuation of the policy of domination and monopoly of decision-making. The impasse now threatens not only the future of the political system and its national movement, but also our people's resilience and the overall national destiny. Getting out of this impasse is now in the hands of the president to take concrete steps to restore unity, and a comprehensive national consensus on a government of capable national competencies and delegated the powers regulated by the Basic Law, and sets its priorities by strengthening people’s steadfastness and their ability to confront the occupation’s plans to liquidate their cause, and to take the necessary practical steps towards Establishing transitional justice, preparing political climates and administrative procedures that guarantee going to presidential and legislative elections within the framework of a realistic and agreed-upon timetable. The burden is heavy, and the danger to our national destiny is imminent, and confronting it requires a review from everyone, and drawing from previous experiences in a way that unites and mobilizes the energies of our people in all places of their presence towards their basic tasks of freedom and dignity, otherwise history will not be merciful to anyone.