Congress wants report on PA textbooks

WASHINGTON – US lawmakers reintroduced on Monday the Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education bill that if passed, would require the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress reviewing textbooks produced by the Palestinian Authority. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) sponsored the bill along with Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) and Rep. David Trone (D-MD).

There are concerns that textbooks produced by the Palestinian Authority “include language and imagery that encourage violence and hatred toward other nations and ethnic groups,” Sherman said in a statement. “Such content is particularly concerning given the use of such materials in educational settings.”

“The United States has provided millions of dollars to support the education of Palestinian children with the stated goal of equipping Palestinians with the tools to build a democratic, secular, and politically moderate Palestinian civil society as a driver for peace,” Sherman said in a statement. He noted that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has raised concerns about the content of such materials.

“As a result of the GAO’s findings, it is necessary for Congress to request additional reports from the State Department to ensure US taxpayer dollars promote dignity and tolerance, and that the educational materials such schools employ do not incite hatred,” Sherman added.

“We are glad to see Congress raising the alarm about Palestinian educational materials that are antisemitic and contain language delegitimizing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said.

The report from the State Department will require the determination of “whether content and passages encouraging violence or intolerance toward other nations or ethnic groups have been removed from such curriculum,” and an “assessment of the steps the Palestinian Authority is taking to reform such curriculum at schools to conform with standards of peace and tolerance.”