School textbooks offer window on intentions of Mideast regimes

[Coastie for Truth]

School textbooks offer window on intentions of Mideast regimes, Diane Ravitch, San Jose CA Mercury News, October 4, 2005

--preliminiary material edited out due to space --

CMIP found that the Israeli textbooks actively promote education for reconciliation, tolerance and peace. They present Islam in a ``positive light,'' with factual explanations of its doctrines. They describe the Palestinian cause as a national movement. They do not promote hatred or violence toward Arabs. Literature books for Israeli students include selections by Palestinian and other Arab authors. Some textbooks were so evenhanded that Israeli critics accused the Ministry of Education of endorsing ``self-hatred.''

The textbooks published by Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, however, use negative stereotypes to portray Jews. Their maps of the region do not include any mention of Israel; its territory is usually described as ``Palestine.'' The Arab textbooks present Jews as treacherous usurpers throughout history, with no rightful claim to nationhood. They describe the infamous Protocols of the Elders of Zion as an authentic historical document.

The Saudi textbooks, analyzed in 2003, expressed hostility and prejudice against not only Jews but Christians and the West. The texts teach that Islam is the only true religion and that Jews and Christians are infidels. The Western world is depicted as the source of the misfortunes of the Muslim world, from the Crusades to imperialism to the establishment of Israel.

Present-day Western cultural and intellectual influence, including Western democracy, is treated as pernicious. Saudi students are taught that the West is a decaying society that is on its way to extinction because of its lack of spirituality, as well as the prevalence of such things as adultery, sodomy, suicide and alcoholism. The texts reject terrorism but warmly praise war, jihad and martyrdom.

--opinions edited out due to space--

Notes by Appender:


Describes a study for the Center for Monitoring the Impact of Peace (CMIP). Article, in background states that CMIP was established to review the content of school textbooks in the (ME) region and to examine whether the books were encouraging the attitudes of mutual tolerance necessary for future peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

Article states in background that CMIP has reviewed textbooks prepared by the governments of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Egypt. Says that CMIP's criteria for analysis are twofold:

* First, do the texts present the images of other peoples and religions as equals or are they shown in a prejudiced way?
* Second, do the textbooks foster peace?

Article then states that CMIP also employs criteria developed by UNESCO, including,

* Do the textbooks include accurate data?
* Are illustrations, maps and graphs accurate and up to date?
* Are the achievements of others recognized?
* Are political disputes presented objectively?
* Are ideals of freedom, dignity and fraternity advocated?

[Angry Girl]

1. When (re)writing the history of tigers, the buffalo do not have a say. n/t

[teryang]

2. Let's apply this to American media and TV evangelists

Our regime's intentions are revealed as well by their sectarian and journalist agents.

[ducque]

3. this is just as true for the Palestinian textbooks ...

... which were "thoroughly revised" with the rise of the PA.

However, they still today contain elementary school arithmetic problems such as: "if you see five Israeli soldiers, and you kill one of them, how many are left?"

I truly wish only that I was making this up.