The Need For Palestinian
Textbook Reform
(November 2004)
The following is
excerpted from “Recommendations for
Palestinian Text Books Reform,” published
by the Israel/Palestine Center for Research
and Information (IPCRI).
Text books issued by governments
are an authoritative source to determine
the values that any society lives by. Until
now, the Palestinian
Authority text books
have not provided evidence that the Palestinian
Authority has been implementing a policy
of peace making.
Palestinian
text books have confused messages
and it is not difficult to come to the understanding
that the main political theme imparted to
the students is that Israel should not exist
and that is essentially the Palestinian goal.
Definition and Maps
There is great confusion in the Palestinian
text books when using the term “Palestine” – what
geographic area is being referred to? One
of the primary criticisms of the Palestinian
text books thus far derives from the confusion
regarding this issue. When showing a map
of all of Palestine from the sea to the river,
without any indication of the State of Israel
on the map, what should the reader understand?
Are these the desired and planned borders
of the State of Palestine? Is the reader
supposed to understand that his or her duty
as a Palestinian citizen is to fight to achieve
those borders and in doing so to eradicate
the State of Israel? Failing to answer these
questions definitively in the texts allows
the reader to interpret the political message
on the basis of their own political persuasion
or understanding, and it allows the reader
to place more than moderate doubts regarding
the real intentions of the Palestinian Authority....
This legitimate criticism [of Israeli text
books] does not, however, excuse the Palestinian
Ministry of Education of its obligation to
designate the State of Israel on maps indicating
periods after 1948.
Likewise, maps indicating the names of towns
and cities inside of the State of Israel
must be designated as such. A map from 1948
onwards with Yaffa or Akka [sic] must indicate
that these cities are located within the
State of Israel. Failure to do so will only
call for the reader to understand that in
the Palestinian view, these cities will be
within the future boundaries of the State
of Palestine. There is no room for ambiguity
on these issues....
Dealing with History
It is equally important to use internationally
verifiable factual data on controversial
issues. References in the Palestinian text
books that “Arabize” the Canaanite
people do not provide internationally verifiable
historic facts and further puts into question
the entire Palestinian narrative. It is clear
that Palestinians are trying to ascertain
that the Arab presence on the Land came prior
to the Jewish presence. However, claiming
that the Canaanite peoples were Arab is beyond
the ability of today’s historical accounts
to certify and opens the text books for severe
international criticism. Palestinian claims
to the land are substantial enough to not
have to rest on questionable historic accounts.
In this vein, references should be made regarding
historical Israelite and Jewish presence
in the land as well as to documenting that
the Jews were exiled from the Land by the
Romans. Distorting historical facts does
not grant greater legitimacy to Palestinian
claims for historic rights to Palestine.
In fact, ignoring historic facts weakens
Palestinian claims....
Dealing with Islamic Texts and Concepts
By not placing Jihad in the broader context
and leaving it as it is currently dealt with
in the Palestinian text books, one cannot
but come to the conclusion that the Palestinian
Authority is encouraging Jihad in the narrow
sense of the Holy War against Israel and
against Jews as well as against Christians.
The same can be said for the concept of
martyrdom. It is not completely clear and
evident from some Palestinian text books
that there is rejection of support for suicide
bombers. In fact, some of the texts could
lead the reader to have real admiration for
those who become suicide bombers and kill
Israelis. It is not clear that the Palestinian
Authority has made a real choice on this
issue in the ambiguous kind of educational
messages one can infer from the text books.
There can be no ambiguity about this issue
within the context of the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict. Praise of martyrdom without being
specifically placed in a historical-religious
context and without being placed in a context
outside of the current conflict transmit
extremely problematic messages that should
be avoided in all text books. Failure to
remove ambiguity concerning these issues – Jihad
and martyrdom – more than any other
issues in all of the text books, questions
to commitment of the Palestinian Authority
to live at peace with Israel....
Dealing with Jerusalem
Jerusalem is the Holy City for the three
monotheistic religions. This is stated clearly
in the Palestinian text books, however, beyond
that general statement, the Jewish presence
- historical, religious and modern, is absent
in the text books. The text books refer to
Jerusalem as having always been an Arab city.
This is not a true representation of historic
fact and the texts must be historically accurate.
Jerusalem is the capital of the State of
Israel....
It is incorrect to ignore Jewish presence
and Jewish affinity for Jerusalem. There
are proven facts of a Jewish presence and
connection to the city of Jerusalem. It is
wrong to ignore this. Ignoring Jewish presence
in Jerusalem and Jewish affinity for Jerusalem
puts into question the political intentions
behind ignoring these facts. Once again,
the reader can easily assume that the Palestinian
Authority views the future of Jerusalem as
one void of Jews and Israelis. The Palestinian
cause is not strengthened by ignoring Jewish
religious and historical connections to Jerusalem.
Sources: IPCRI |