Coal

Palestinian Schools Strike Over Alleged Censorship

Published SEP 19 2022

Story

Image credit: AFP [via Al Jazeera]

The Facts

Hundreds of Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem closed on Monday in response to Israel's Jerusalem municipality's plan to introduce Israeli curriculum and textbooks in the classroom.
Al Jazeera
The strike, which was called for by the unified parents committee and Palestinian National and Islamic Forces, is reportedly being observed by most of the 280 Palestinian schools in the region, affecting up to 115k students grades K-12.
The Media Line
Palestinian parents and students have also held protests across the city, chanting slogans such as "no to the distorted curriculum" and "no to Israelizing education."
The Peninsula Qatar
This comes as the Education Ministry recently ordered the removal of textbook materials it defined as promoting "false claims" and "incitement" against Israel.
Haaretz
The parents committee said the strike could escalate unless the municipality stops interfering in what they deem their "right to learn their narrative and history."
The Media Line
Over the past five years, the number of East Jerusalem students studying Israel's syllabus has climbed from 5K to 16K, with the municipality claiming not to force this program on anyone.
Haaretz

Sources Split

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The Spin

Pro-Palestine narrative

Not only has Israel occupied Palestinian land by force, but now they're attempting to occupy the minds of Palestinian students. This strike is needed in the face of Israel's invasion, and these students and parents shouldn't stop until their right to teach Palestinian curriculum has been affirmed.

Palestine Chronicle

Pro-Israel narrative

The shift in the curriculum in East Jerusalem schools isn't new, as Israel has been introducing modernized schooling for several years now. Israel is not attempting to wipe away the Palestinian narrative, as some have alleged, but only to strengthen the academic output in the region and remove material aimed at radicalizing Palestinian children in a hatred towards Israel.