Academic Study Weakens Israeli Claim That Palestinian School
Texts Teach Hate
In Jerusalem evidence is found that the textbooks to be
published Monday finds that each side presents the other as the enemy but
undermines the assertion that the children are educated to hate. This wrangling
argument about textbooks is part of a broader debate about Palestinian
incitement against Israelis. Israel’s minister of education issued a statement
in January dismissing the new research-“Referring to “bodies that wish to
slander the Israeli education system and the state of Israel,” it said the
findings were “predetermined” and did not “reliably reflect reality.”
Arnon Grois a member of the advisory panel also refused to
endorse the report but insisted the authority’s textbooks “prepare the pupils
for a future armed struggle for the elimination of the state of Israel.” Fourteen
of the nineteen advisory panel members expressed support for the study. This
report was commissioned by the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy
Land; this is a group of Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders who advocate for
mutual respect and understanding. It was financed by a grant from the United
States State Department. The research was led by two prominent academics with
long experience in textbook studies and the project was originated by Dr. Bruce
E. Wexler a professor emeritus of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. He
also added that the panel members were familiar with the report’s main
findings.
Dr. Wexler intended on applying this scientific research
methods to “provide real facts about a controversial issue.” He employed research
assistants from both sides similar to a blind study. The study examined a
variety of books but did not include religious scripture; it also avoids harsh
language. The study found that extreme examples of dehumanization and demonization
were very rare on both sides. “The report said that both Israeli and
Palestinian books provided unilateral national narratives that presented the
other side as an enemy and that there was a lack of information about each
other’s religions, culture and daily life.”
But another significant conclusion was that Israeli state
textbooks provided more information and less negative characterizations of the
other side and more self-criticism regarding certain historical episodes than
the ultra-Orthodox or Palestinian books. The study concludes that the maps
reinforce each side’s self-narrative and fears — for the Palestinians, that
Israel seeks to keep and expand occupied territories, and for the Israelis,
that the Arab nations seek to wipe Israel off the map. The textbook teachings
on martyrdom and self-sacrifice are also described and after the years of
suicide bombings in Palestine, critics say that the books glorify such acts of
terrorism. However, Professor Bar-Tal (one of the researchers) said that “both
societies are in the stage of mobilization,” with most Israeli students being
prepared for compulsory army service. He and others believe that the textbooks
were only one of the factors that influence the younger generation.
This current event was very interesting to read and be
informed on something that is controversy in another part of the world. I was
glad to see that the study concluded that there were rare times on both sides
that dehumanization and demonization took place. The earliest years of a child’s
life are some of the ones where they are very vulnerable and are some of the
most important in their life. The books they read help shape their view or
vision of the world and educators need to pay close attention to what’s
contained in these books. Another important concept to look at is to analyze
the way information is presented in textbooks. Children need to be informed
about the world they live in but it needs to be done in an appropriate manner.
I’m relieved to see that these books in Pakistan do not foster a sense of hate
in their children but I do understand there are still some that don’t agree that
the results in this study are accurate. I also have to argue and say that from
the information presented in the article, the study and the results sound like
they are concrete and since a lot of time, effort and research went into it, I
see the results being valid. Education is important in all parts of the world
and I hope this study helped resolve some of this issue and the larger debate
mentioned at the beginning of the article.
Leslie Belk
2/4/13
10:20 pm
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