LONDON—Britain has announced a wide-ranging review of the Palestinian Authority curriculum.
In a statement released this week, the British government’s Department of International Development (DFID) announced that it is “has successfully pushed for a review into Palestinian textbooks” and will “identify the steps necessary to ensure such books promote peace and tolerance.”
The Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) Vice-Chair, MP Louise Ellman earlier this year introduced legislation into the British Parliament citing a research presented by IMPACT-se on the Palestinian Authority’s new curriculum which showed examples of incitement. The bill mandates UK assistance to the Palestinian Authority education system comply with international values of peace and tolerance.
Last December, Alistair Burt, British Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, wrote in a letter to IMPACT-se : “I was deeply concerned when I read the findings of the IMPACT-se report into the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) new curriculum, and discussed this with officials.’’
He added, “I assure you that the material you have presented is being acted upon. We continue to raise the content of textbooks with the PA…my officials met with the PA’s Minister of Education and showed him the troubling examples highlighted in your report to show our deep concern.”
In Germany, the government also announced the launch of an independent investigation into Palestinian textbooks in response to the publication by BILD, Germany’s widest-circulation newspaper, of an interview with IMPACT-se exposing radicalization and hate in the Palestinian curriculum. Politicians demanded the Merkel Administration “explain funding”, “draw conclusions”, “condition bi-national aid”, and ensure “German tax money does not flow into terror propaganda”.
The European Union, Germany and UK are the largest donors to the Palestinian Ministry of Education