Anti-semitism contradicts our common goal of working toward a two-state solution

The results of the EU-commissioned study by the Georg-Eckert Institute (GEI) published last June on Palestinian textbooks, presented to the Parliament on 2 September, took us, some MEPs by surprise. With the report finding that the curriculum does not meet UNESCO standards in its entirety, Maciej Popowski, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, whose  directorate commissioned the study, summarized the findings well stating, “It is very clear that the study does reveal the existence of very deeply problematic content that remains of serious concern,” write Frederiqe Ries MEP (Renew Europe Group), Ilana Cicurel MEP (Renew Europe Group), Dietmar Köster MEP (Socialists & Democrats) and Niclas Herbst MEP (Christian Democratic Union).

Indeed the GEI report confirmed previous reports that peace agreements and proposals with Israel, which had appeared in PA schoolbooks, have been removed from the current iteration of the curriculum. It further confirmed that editions published since 2017 are now replete with troubling insertions of antisemitic content and imagery, hate speech and direct incitement to violence, martyrdom, and jihad across almost all grades and subjects. The direct impact of these curricula has been seen over the past two months during the upsurge of violence in Israel, with textbooks inciting students to violence, instructing them to commit jihad and die as martyrs liberating the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Concern over such findings in the GEI report are well placed, with it being quite evident that Palestinian text books have gotten consistently worse over the course of the past three years. Just last week during the plenary, the European Parliament passed a resolution criticizing the PA for creating and teaching new violent and hateful materials with EU aid and insisting on scrutinizing PA to “modify the curriculum expeditiously”. In the resolution, they reiterated previously adopted resolutions insisting that EU funding to the PA “must be made conditional” on teaching on reform of the curriculum to fully adhere to UNESCO standards for peace and tolerance”.

Violent and hateful materials are measured in terms of overt instances of incitement, hatred and anti-semitism identified. Some of our MEP colleagues are more positive in their approach How such a positive approach could be taken is unclear, when in the GEI’s director, Professor Dr. Eckhardt Fuchs’ own speech before Parliament in September 2021, he stated that the Palestinian Authority’s curriculum does not meet UNESCO standards considering how in it we can, “find incitement to hatred, antisemitic parts and this we have said very clearly”.

The PA itself has also unequivocally rejected the findings of the GEI report with the PA’s curriculum chief at the Ministry of Education, Tharwat Zaid, stating last month that changes will not be made to the curriculum and that the PA rejects the findings of the EU’s report on PA textbooks. Palestinian Prime Minister Shtayye similarly said in a June 2021 Cabinet speech in reaction to the findings of GEI report that the Palestinian curriculum, “cannot be judged by standards far removed from [the Palestinian] people history and culture”, while Palestinian Foreign Minister Maliki said last month that they will not amend the curriculum over demands of funding conditionality on a curricula reform.

On the subject of conditionality, it should be clarified that it has always been our perspective that a reserve should be withheld until Palestinian curricula meets international standards. This in no way should be conflated with stopping funding in its entirety and should not be seen as removing part of the budget, with the reserve being unfrozen when international standards are finally met.

As Members of the European Parliament, it is our duty to stand up for the European values. The European Parliament has repeatedly called on the PA to promote quality education for Palestinian children which adheres to UNESCO standards and supports a two-state solution. We, at this sensitive time, call upon our colleagues to uphold those calls and our own respective commitments to combatting hatred and anti-semitism.

Less than 80 years after the perpetration of the worst crime against humanity our continent has known, the Holocaust, and a mere week after thousands, including some of our MEP colleagues, marched to the Auschwitz death camp as part of the annual March of the Living, we must show that when we say “Never Again” we mean it. Incidentally the theme of this this year’s march was the importance of passing the responsibility for Holocaust remembrance and education to the next generation. This next generation must include the next generation of Palestinian school-children, who, with the help of our funding, are not even taught that the Holocaust happened.

Education towards a Palestinian national identity that supports aspirations for self-determination should not come at the expense of truth and history. A people that would like their own plight recognized, must also understand that of their neighbors. Criticism of Israel is okay, but it must be taught in a context that meets international peace standards, humanizes Jews and Israelis, and rejects violence by all parties.

It is not only historical revisionism which is evident, but overt anti-semitic tropes which are prominent in study cards published for the 2021-2022 academic year. Characteristics of Jews are portrayed as devious, treacherous and hostile, the classic antisemitic canard that Jews (and Zionists, which are conflated) control global events through Jewish influence is highlighted not to mention overt denial of the Jewish people’s right to self-determination and the existence of Jewish national identity.

Such anti-semitic tropes stand in stark contrast with the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, published in October 2021 on the background of a worrying rise in anti-semitism. Calling to, “Ensure that EU external funds may not be misallocated to activities that incite hatred and violence, including against Jewish People” and noting that, “Any material that goes against them risks undermining peace and co-existence and has no place in textbooks or classrooms”, it is apparent why there is cause for concern.

When it comes to funding, accountability is paramount. This is something which those attending the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee, scheduled to take place in early May, must also remember. Established “to promote cooperation between the parties and the donor community in support of the two-state solution, development of the Palestinian economy, and institution-building”, the AHLC has the potential to support critical issues in the Palestinian arena, however comprehensive oversight with regards to the allocation of donations is imperative.

Some confuse calls for better budgetary oversight with regards to EU funding with opposition to EU funding for the Palestinian Authority. We reiterate our wholehearted support EU funding for the PA, however EU taxpayer money must never be misused for incitement and the perpetuation of anti-semitism which contradicts our common goal of working toward peace and a Two State Solution.

Frederiqe Ries is an MEP for the Renew Europe Group and its vice chairman.

Ilana Cicurel is an MEP for the Renew Europe Group as well as a member of the Committee on Culture and Education.

Dietmar Köster is an MEP for the Socialists & Democrats and a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Niclas Herbst is an MEP for the Christian Democratic Union and Vice Chair of the Committee on Budgets for the European People's Party.

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