In a Palestinian textbook that, among other things, mentions the importance of heroes for the national pride, terrorists and militant Islamists are hailed. This is reported by the Jerusalem Post and cited by MIFF.
Itamar Marcus, the leader of Palestinian Media Watch, tells in a letter to the editor that this is not the first time that Palestinian text books are criticised, adding that the fresh ones are among the worst he has ever seen. One chapter stands out as particularly problematic in its appraisal of terrorists.
– The textbooks of the PA have been criticised ever since the Palestinian Media Watch wrote their very first analysis of them in 1998; and the fresh books are in fact among the worst. One chapter in particular hails terrorists; it is present in the 2017 Arabic language textbook for fifth graders and provides you with an understanding of the profoundly rooted, twisted values of the leadership of the PA, Marcus writes in his letter to the editors of the Jerusalem Post.
The chapter in the text book begins by stating the essential impact of heroes on the national identity and pride, and continues to mention that songs are sung about these heroes and that children and places are named after them. Later on, the children are presented with a list of Palestinian «heroes», and at this point, everything is wrong.
– There are ten militant Moslems of the 21st century in the list. Probably the worst name on the list of role models is the mass murderer, Dalal Mughrabi, Itamar Marcus writes.
In 1978, Mughrabi led a group of terrorists that attacked and hijacked a bus in Israel. 25 adults and 12 children were killed in the attack; however, Mughrabi is portrayed to Palestian schoolchildren as a hero to be followed after. The terrorist was himself killed in the attack.
– These heroes are the crown of our nation, the symbol of its glory, the best of the best, the best of noble people, the textbook reads.
The children are taught that their foremost examples to follow are mass murderers who die a fearless «martyr» death. At the end of the chapter, the children are taught to hail the «heroes» and to despise the «cowards».
Itamar Marcus writes that this appraisal of Mughrabi is no isolated event; it is merely part of some cult-like worship of the terrorist, staged by the Palestinian authonomous authorities. The Palestinian Department of Education has named five schools after the dead terrorist. According to Marcus, this worship is part of a perverted system of values, with which the Palestinian authorities since 1994 has brainwashed children.
– It is no surprise that so many Palestinian terrorists these last years have been teenagers, including the one who killed the Jewish-American father of four, Ari Fuld. The Palestinian leadership has spread their «kill a Jew; become a hero» message for several decades. Judging from the result, Palestinian children definitely have been influenced, Marcus writes.
Fact: Norway leads the The International donor group for Palestine, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, and in 2016, the Department of Foreign Affairs gave 685 million Nkr in international aid to Palestine. 235 million Nkr were budget support for the Palestinian authonomous authorities (PA).
Source, Norad
Translated to English by Lars Hoem