Dutch MEP opposes resumption of EU financial aid to the PA as long as school textbooks incite hate

As several EU countries are pushing for the EU to resume its financial aid to the Palestinian Authority, a Dutch member of the European Parliament fears that such a resumption will compromise the fight against antisemitism in Europe, writes Yossi Lempkowicz.

EU funding has been frozen for nearly two years over objections to the presence of antisemitic images and hate material in Palestinian school textbooks. In March of this year, the EU withheld more than 210 million euros in aid, citing the same concerns.

In May, the European Parliament condemned the Palestinian Authority  for the third consecutive year for its abuse of EU funding used to draft and teach new violent and hateful textbooks ‘’worse than previous editions.’’

A resolution adopted by the parliament demanded that the Palestinian Authority be “closely scrutinized,” that the curriculum be modified “expeditiously,” and reiterating  previous motions adopted by the Parliament insisting that funding to the PA “must be made conditional” on teaching peace and tolerance in compliance with UNESCO standards.

Dutch MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen (pictured), of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, pleads against the resumption of the aid to the PA as he fears that such a move  will further “poison” of Palestinian children and will only put peace further out of sight, even in the long run. “So we are also making the fight against anti-Semitism here in Europe an empty shell,” Ruissen, who is vice-chairman of the European parliament delegation for relations with Israel, said in an interview with Dutch magazine Trouw.

The resumption of the EU aid tot he PA is expected to be discussed when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets with PA Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayeh in Ramallah on Tuesday.

The teaching materials in Palestinian schools have long been a source of concern. Critics detect anti-Semitism in it and point out that Israel does not appear on maps and perpetrators of terrorist attacks are presented as heroes.

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