Statement of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Satterfield
Thank you, Chairman Specter. I wish to express my gratitude to all the Members of this Subcommittee for this opportunity to discuss Palestinian education.
Mr. Chairman, let me begin by stating that we are in full agreement with the goals underlying this hearing. We all recognize that an education system that promotes peace and tolerance best prepares children for a bright future. We welcome this Committee’s interests in the Palestinian education system and share its concerns. This is why we have placed such great emphasis on working with the Palestinian Authority to revise their curriculum to promote principles of human rights, democracy, diversity, tolerance and pluralism. That approach to education will provide a foundation for democracy and peace in the region, and the basis for a shared future.
Of concern to our discussions today is the question, to what extent does the current Palestinian education system promote the hate and violence that undermine the foundations for stability and peace? It is clear that the old Palestinian curriculum in the West Bank and Gaza is unacceptable to us and everyone else in the international community genuinely interested in an education system that teaches children the truth, as opposed to hatred. The U.S. and other donor nations, as well as Israel, have long been concerned that materials used in the Palestinian education system and the UNRWA schools incited hatred. The curriculum – formed around a core of outdated Egyptian and Jordanian textbooks that fell out of use in those countries long ago - contained anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli content and promoted gender stereotypes. Moreover, the textbooks failed to promote critical-thinking, but rather favored rote memorization. The Palestinian Authority, at the urging of the United States and the international community, recognized that neither intolerance nor deprivation of independent thought would serve future generations of the Palestinian people. Accordingly, the Palestinian Authority undertook the revision of the entire curriculum.
The revised curriculum represents a significant and positive step forward. There are no longer references to the Jews as “the evil enemy” or as being “treacherous”, but rather there is clearly an avoidance of dealing with the Jewish-Islamic relationships in negative contexts. The new books seek to advance inter-religious tolerance and diversity, and have rid themselves of their anti-Semitic content. Concepts of good citizenship and ethics are stressed, as is respect for the environment and for others. The new curriculum also reflects an effort to promote active learning and critical thinking, over passive acceptance.
Despite these important gains, the new books fall short of expectations in important ways. Israel’s existence is not explicitly acknowledged either in narratives or on maps. Discussions of “historic Palestine” are ambiguous on the status of Israeli cities such as Haifa and Nazareth. Encouragement of inter-religious tolerance focuses on Islam and Christianity, without mentioning Judaism.
A true peace curriculum must contain neither the sins of commission nor of omission. Therefore we will continue to press for further change and have dedicated the resources to do so. Revisions are underway for the remaining grades that use the older texts (grades 5, 10, 11, 12). Moreover, the Ministry of Education regards the development of the new curriculum as a continuing process, with further amendments expected once President Bush’s two-state vision becomes reality. Obviously, that is not soon enough. We recognize that the new textbooks still contain certain historical and political omissions and inaccuracies. What they do not contain, however, is a call to violence or reason for hate. To further ensure that the positive concepts of peace and tolerance in the textbooks are being promoted, with funding appropriated by Congress, we have charged the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI) – a well-respected NGO - with continued monitoring of the content, distribution, and use of these new books, and with the training of Palestinian teachers in peace and tolerance. IPCRI’s materials stress Israel’s existence as a political and historical reality.
We call upon your Committee to work to strengthen the hand of the President and Secretary as they seek to lead the region away from violence and towards peace by supporting these efforts. The future of the region depends on its children.
Thank you very much Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee. I’d be pleased to take your questions.
