Statement
on Palestinian Textbooks
(July 2005)
Excerpted from H.R.2601 — Foreign
Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years
2006 and 2007 (Engrossed as Agreed to or
Passed by House):
SEC. 1424. PALESTINIAN TEXTBOOKS.
(1) Since 1993, the United States has provided
more than $1,400,000,000 to assist the
Palestinian people, including to assist
with the process of strengthening the
Palestinian education system.
(2) Since 1950, the United States has provided
more than $3,200,000,000 in assistance
to United Nations Relief and Works Agency
(UNRWA), which operates schools in camps
housing Palestinians.
(3) The Palestinian Authority has undertaken
a reform of its textbooks, a process
which will be completed in 2006.
(4) These new textbooks, while an improvement
over past texts, fail in many respects
to foster attitudes amongst the Palestinian
people conducive to peace with Israel,
including references to the infamous
Protocols of the Elders of Zion, failure
to acknowledge the State of Israel, and
failure to discuss Jews in sections dealing
with religious tolerance.
(b) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of
Congress that the Secretary of State should
express in the strongest possible terms
United States opposition to the inclusion
in Palestinian textbooks of materials which
foster anti-Semitism and rejection of peace
with Israel, and to express the unwillingness
of the United States to continue to support
educational programs of the Palestinian
Authority, whether directly or indirectly,
should the Palestinian Authority continue
to include material which does not foster
tolerance and peace.
Sources: Thomas |