(National Interest) Marcus Sheff - We are seeing with absolute clarity that in Gaza, education has been manipulated to teach a generation to hate with deadly and horrific consequences. On Oct. 7, graduates of Gaza's education system perpetrated the most unspeakable crimes against thousands of Israeli civilians. The roots of the unprecedented assault are found in Palestinian textbooks replete with hatred towards Jews, incitement to violence, and the glorification of terror and martyrdom. Fifth-graders are taught that it is a duty to commit jihad and become a martyr for the sake of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Moreover, the uncomfortable truth is that the international community, including policymakers in Washington, has unwittingly contributed to this state of affairs. The Palestinian Authority (PA) receives hundreds of millions of euros in aid from European governments and the EU itself. The PA's hate-filled textbooks are taught throughout the Gazan school system, including schools run by the UN. Since 1994, the U.S. has funneled billions of dollars in aid to the Palestinians. Among the biggest beneficiaries is UNRWA, which operates schools serving more than half of Gaza's students. The U.S. is UNRWA's largest donor, paying the salaries of teachers in UNRWA schools who peddle the hatred of the PA curriculum and teaching materials. In light of the atrocities of Oct. 7, Washington can no longer afford to write UNRWA a blank check. The human cost has become unbearable. The writer is the CEO of the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se).
2023-10-30 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive