Posted on 07/22/2007 6:43:40 PM PDT by Alouette
JERUSALEM (AFP) - History textbooks for Israeli Arab students this year will for the first time present the Palestinian version of Israel's creation as a "catastrophe," the education ministry said on Sunday.
"For these types of events, both the Israeli and Palestinian versions have to be presented," Education Minister Yuli Tamir said in a statement.
Alongside presenting the Israeli interpretation of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, the books will also present the version "that is generally accepted among the Arabs, according to which Israel's War of Independence is perceived as a catastrophe (Naqba) by the Palestinians," Tamir said.
The books will also for the first time say that "some of the Palestinians were expelled following the War of Independence and that many Arab-owned lands were confiscated," the statement said.
The books also say Palestinian leaders refused the 1947 United Nations partition plan of then British-mandate Palestine into an Israeli and Palestinian state, while Jewish leaders accepted it.
Some Israeli secular history books have for years presented the Palestinian version of the 1948 events, but textbooks for Israeli Arabs have not contained that side of history, which the students heard widely at home.
The ministry's initiative was immediately condemned by right-wing politicians.
Hardline Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman, head of the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, denounced on army radio what he called "the masochism and defeatism of the Israeli left, which constantly seeks to apologise, while we did what we had to."
Former education minister Limor Livnat of the right-wing opposition Likud party, said presenting the Palestinian version could "push young Arabs to the conclusion that they have to fight against the Israeli occupation."
Israeli Arabs, who represent about 20 percent of the nation's population, are descendants of the 160,000 Palestinians who remained inside Israel following the 1948 war, while the rest left or were driven out.
Why not also teach the Arab version of the Holocaust?
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
That’s the way things are headed. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to one day see the Al Qaeda version of the WOT in our own textbooks.
Israel is joining the national suicide club???
If you can’t teach your children that the enemies lies are lies, how will he ever know the truth?
Apparently.
Ah, well. It was a nice little 60 year experiment anyways.
Why not? American textbooks teach only the Native American version of the Pilgrims, they teach the soviet version of WWII...
What I don’t know is why they’re limiting this to Arab-Israelis. It’s not like they need anymore anti-Israeli propaganda, but if they’re going to be presenting both viewpoints, it’d be best if the Jewish Israelis were presented the same material. Right now it seems like they’re trying to grow little jihadis in their midst.
Personally, I don’t worry too much about these textbook modifications. If the children’s parents are doing their jobs, there shouldn’t be an issue. In any event, nowadays, you can’t help but be exposed to a variety of viewpoints with the internet and all.
Israeli textbook states Arab view
BBC | 7/22/07 | Staff
Posted on 07/22/2007 5:58:57 PM PDT by mgstarr
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1870047/posts
I’d ask that question, but I’m afraid of the answer.
“both the Israeli and Palestinian versions have to be presented”
Actually, many Palestinian Christians (not just Arabs but also Greek and Armenians) lost their homes to the advancing Israeli army in 1948, Arab muslims did as well.
Anyone who believes that Israel built their nation on completely deserted land either doesn’t know the history of Palestine or doesn’t care.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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With the possible exception of Antartica, I doubt that there is a square inch of this world which has not changed hands multiple times as various armies advanced. This includes Virginia.
“And why are we supposed to care?”
I wasn’t referring to leaders of Arab countries who’ve used Palestinians for their own purposes.
But if you owned property and an invading army came along and took it from you without any compensation, you’d care plenty. That was what happened to a lot of noncombatant civilians (Arabs, Greeks and Armenians) in Palestine.
There is no Palestine. There are no Palestinians. It was a lie created by the Arabs when they lost 2 wars in a row, and one was won in 6 days. The Arabs themselves denied a “Palestine” ever existed until it suited their propaganda.
Jews never recieved compensation when they were expelled from Arab lands. Tough luck for the Arabs and their supporters.
People lived in Palestine. They owned personal property. Many of them dated back centuries, all the way back to Pentecost.
Call them whatever you like but you can’t deny their existence.
When does the bending over stop?
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