Popular Articles

Watch: Asking The European Union About Funding Palestinian Education

Behind the scene with David Bedein

Click an icon above to share, email, or save this article

Is there evidence that UNRWA actually reviews texts taught to their students?” (Photo: Behind the scene with David Bedein Jan 29 2023 – Screengrab)

Click an icon above to share, email, or save this article

As the head of the Nahum Bedein Center for Near East Policy Research, I have covered the Palestinian Authority school system since the very first day that the PA began to issue its own textbooks on August 1, 2000.

Having met with and received personal authorization from Yasser Arafat to receive and review all textbooks issued by the Palestinian Authority and used by UNRWA schools in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and Gaza, the center engaged Dr. Arnon Groiss to review more than 1,000 school books issued by the PA.

Dr. Groiss, fluent in Arabic, holds a Phd in Islamic Studies from Princeton University, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration at Harvard, and served as the deputy director of Arab language services at the Israel Broadcasting Authority. In that context, asked the EU spokesman if the EU would take proactive steps to remove incitement from PA and UNRWA schools.

Previous slide
Next slide

This is the EU response:

“The 2022 assistance package in support of Palestine was adopted on 16 December 2022. Education was not included in the incentive‐based tranche of the PEGASE mechanism. The EU remains firmly committed to promoting inclusive and quality education for the Palestinian people, including to ensuring full adherence with the United Nations values and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) standards and norms in the field of education and in all education material. The Palestinian Authority must ensure the highest standards in fostering a culture of peace and coexistence paving the way for a future where the conflict can be solved through negotiations leading to a two-state solution.”

It continued,

“The EU has no tolerance for incitement to hatred and violence, as means to *achieve political goals *, the glorification of ‘armed resistance’ and antisemitism in all its forms. Any material that goes against these principles risks undermining peace and coexistence and has no place in textbooks or classrooms.” 

The paragraph in the EU letter saying: “The EU has no tolerance for incitement to hatred and violence as means to achieve political goals, the glorification of ‘armed resistance’ and antisemitism in all its forms” was really encouraging.

Get thej.ca a Pro Israel Voice by Email. Never miss a top story that effects you, your family & your community

Response of  ​​the EU Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Security Affairs

“Regarding your questions, the EU is firmly committed to promote inclusive and quality education for the Palestinian people, including to ensure full adherence with the United Nations values and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) standards and norms in the field of education and in all education material. Since 2021, the EU has stepped up its engagement with the Palestinian Authority in this regard. The Palestinian Authority must ensure the highest standards in fostering a culture of peace and coexistence paving the way for a future where the conflict can be solved through negotiations leading to a two-state solution.

“The EU has no tolerance for incitement to hatred and violence, as means to achieve political goals, the glorification of ‘armed resistance’ and antisemitism in all its forms. Any material that goes against these principles risks undermining peace and coexistence and has no place in textbooks or classrooms. This position was reiterated recently in the statements published following the latest events in Jenin and Jerusalem.

The EU and other European donors collectively support the Palestinian education sector and the provision of quality services in a wide range of ways. The EU does not fund any textbooks. There are no UNRWA textbooks.

UNRWA always uses the textbooks of the host in question. It regularly reviews the textbooks and learning materials used in UNRWA schools under its Curriculum Framework, which aims to ensure that the curriculum is in line with UN values…. 

My response to the EU Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Security Affairs

Concerning the claim that UNRWA “aims to ensure that the curriculum is in line with UN values”:

  • Is the presentation of a woman who murdered more than 30 people as a role model in a PA/UNRWA text book in line with UN values?
  • Is the eradication of every Jewish community on both sides of the 1949 UN armistice lines in line with UN values?
  • Is there evidence that UNRWA actually reviews texts taught to their students?:

No EU answer to my response.

Is there evidence that UNRWA actually reviews texts taught to their students?” (Photo: File)

David Bedein is an MSW community organizer and an investigative journalist. In 1987, Bedein established the Israel Resource News Agency at Beit Agron to accompany foreign journalists in their coverage of Israel, to balance the media lobbies established by the PLO and their allies.   Mr. Bedein has reported for news outlets such as CNN Radio, Makor Rishon, Philadelphia Inquirer, Los Angeles Times, BBC and The Jerusalem Post. Bedein’s work can be found at: www.IsraelBehindTheNews.com and www.cfnepr.com. A new site, unrwa-monitor.com, will be launched very soon.

Click an icon above to share, email, or save this article

Click an icon above to share, email, or save this article

Previous slide
Next slide

Read More

Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.

We do news differently!

Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.

We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.

But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!

Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.

Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.

We thank you for your ongoing support.

Happy reading!

Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.

We do news differently!

Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.

We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.

But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!

Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.

Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.

We thank you for your ongoing support.

Happy reading!

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content

Previous slide
Next slide

LATEST ARTICLES

cOMING SOON…….

Breaking News

Recent

Features

News

Current Events

Opinions

Politics

Religion

Culture

Memoriam and Obituaries

PodcastS

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

About Us

Advertise with us

contact 

Subscribe Now

Receive the latest in community & international Jewish news direct to your inbox

© 2020 THEJ.CA, All Rights Reserved

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

About Us

Advertise with us

contact 

Subscribe Now

Receive the latest in community & international Jewish news direct to your inbox

© 2020 THEJ.CA, All Rights Reserved

Subscribe Now

Receive the latest in community & international Jewish news direct to your inbox

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

About Us

Advertise with us

contact 

© 2020 THEJ.CA, All Rights Reserved