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Last update - 21:33 03/06/2008 Effort to soften harsh portrayal of Jews in Palestinian textbooks reversed by Hamas regime By The Associated Press Tags: Hamas, Palestinian textbooks  Authors of Palestinian school textbooks took small steps toward softening their harsh portrayals of Jews and Israel under the rule of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but progress was quickly reversed after the Islamic Hamas won a 2006 election, according to a report released on Tuesday. The report by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-SE) and the American Jewish Committee looked at 120 textbooks published from 2000 to 2006 for how they perceived Jews and Israel. Advertisement The report reflects charges by Israelis that Palestinian textbooks are not in keeping with a peace process that started in 1993. Palestinians counter that Jewish Israeli students are not taught about Palestinian suffering. Arnon Groiss, author of the report, Palestinian Textbooks: From Arafat to Abbas and Hamas said most of the textbooks from first to tenth grade, issued under the late Yasser Arafat's rule, did not acknowledge any historical Jewish presence in ancient Palestine, nor does modern-day Israel appear on maps. Jews are vilified as schemers and killers. But in grade 11 books issued under Abbas, there are two maps showing Israel within the cease-fire line before the 1967 Six Day war, when Israel captured east Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The textbooks issued under Abbas' rule also include a discussion of Jewish history in the region, the report said. However, in 2006, the militant Islamic Hamas came to power and issued a grade 12 textbook that dramatically reversed those steps. Jews are likened to snakes, and fighting for the sake of Palestine is praised effusively. Mixed with anti-Semitic sentiments in the textbooks are genuine Palestinian complaints against Israel, including settlement building and the Israeli separation barrier. "Palestinian grievances are legitimate, they were harshly hurt by Israel," said Groiss. "But if (Jewish Israelis) are only presented through that prism, that's wrong. We can't see any balance," he said. Jamal Zakkout, spokesman for Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, said Palestinian textbooks should emphasize connection to the land and a call for tolerance. But Zakkout said the main cause for Palestinian ill will toward Israel is not the textbooks, but Israel's many checkpoints in the West Bank, the separation barrier and military operations in Palestinian towns. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terrorist donuts U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh. All the way to hell Rosner's blog: It's Obama's good intentions that pro-Israel activists fear.   1.   Every nations textbooks contain propaganda 21:44  |  Natallie Durson 03/06/08   2.   Backward society 21:51  |  Michael 03/06/08   3.   The text books under abbas should show that israel has grabbed 21:52  |  lakshmi 03/06/08   4.   Why they hate Israelis 21:53  |  David James Vickery 03/06/08   5.   #1 Natallie 21:55  |  Michael 03/06/08   6.   PA doubletalk. If the books have no effect, why not change them! 21:55  |  McQueen 03/06/08   7.   pals playing games means nothing useless beaurocrats 21:59  |  ralph 03/06/08   8.   Natallie Durson - put up or shut up 22:16  |  Joe Sittizen 03/06/08   9.   Teaching children hatred is counterproductive 22:16  |  Psychologist 03/06/08   10.   You kick our BUTS and you want us to love 22:19  |  Palestinian 03/06/08   11.   Nataliie`s Double Speak 22:20  |  JP 03/06/08   12.   natallie,give us proof of these poisonous books you speak of 22:20  |  terrornator 03/06/08   13.   Also, the racism is true 22:21  |  lakshmi 03/06/08   14.   Poor Arab Victims 22:37  |  Mark Wiseman 03/06/08   15.   Nazi Germany also had textbook problems what`s the big deal 22:37  |  Natallie Durson 03/06/08   16.   palestinian,first,there is no state or country named palestine, 22:40  |  terrornator 03/06/08   17.   lakshmi,you,and other muslims racism is evident every single day 22:42  |  terrornator 03/06/08   18.   or McQueen 22:55  |  Dave Duncan 03/06/08   19.   Natalie - #1 23:00  |  Elihu 03/06/08   20.   very important issue 23:02  |  paulo2005 03/06/08   21.   OK Jews are snakes & smart but Arabs are dirty dogs,pigs &monkeys 23:13  |  Genuine Tosefta 03/06/08   22.   NO visas into US for students of Hamas "math" and hatred... 23:18  |  Dr. L. Brnd 03/06/08   23.   NO visas into US for students of Hamas "math" and hatred... 23:18  |  Dr. L. Brnd 03/06/08   24.   Textbooks in Mississippi in 1965 potrayed 23:25  |  Natallie DUHson 03/06/08   25.   poor palestinian 23:31  |  Connie 03/06/08   26.   nutallie #15 the probelm,you poor ignorant slob,is,it created a 23:33  |  terrornator 03/06/08   27.   Lakshmi#3 - as long as it gives accurate accounts of Arabs 23:33  |  William 03/06/08   28.   Durson lies again 23:34  |  leo 03/06/08   29.   Israeli textbooks ARE FILLED with PROPAGANDA 23:36  |  THE GOY OF ISRAEL 03/06/08   30.   #19 paulo2005 excellent post 23:39  |  MR 03/06/08   31.   To Palestinian#10 - You know little of Israel and its people 23:40  |  William 03/06/08   32.   Nutallie DUHson#24 - "Everybody is entitled to their view" 23:45  |  William 03/06/08   33.   Palestinian suffering 23:46  |  Sam C 03/06/08   34.   durson...... 23:57  |  franny 03/06/08   35.   Hamas is learning 23:59  |  W 03/06/08   36.   Durson: No Big Deal 00:03  |  Brad 04/06/08   37.   No. 12, terrornator 00:04  |  W 04/06/08   38.   hence, no peace. destroy hamas and destroy war. 00:09  |  frenz 04/06/08   39.   The truth hurts! 00:15  |  Natallie Durson 04/06/08   40.   A good reason NOT to give pals entrance and education to the US 00:19  |  Avram 04/06/08   41.   Right on, Terrornator 00:26  |  Joe Abramson 04/06/08   42.   #4 David Vickery 00:39  |  ballistic 04/06/08   43.   natalie on Nazi Germany 00:44  |  Tziril Esther 04/06/08   44.   Avram- Unless Israel takes responsibility for the 00:45  |  AVROOOM! 04/06/08   45.   William - Sorry most maps do not show Palestine 00:46  |  MAP MAN 04/06/08   46.   #12 There goes Terrornator, off the chain again 00:47  |  ballistic 04/06/08   47.   to natalie 00:47  |  Tziril Esther 04/06/08   48.   The Text Book Fraud Revisited 00:49  |  Jonah S. 04/06/08   49.   27 William,in your eagerness to list Hamas`s crimes you repeated 00:49  |  lakshmi 04/06/08   50.   #16 Terrornator 00:53  |  ballistic 04/06/08   51.   #22 L Brnd 00:56  |  ballistic 04/06/08   52.   Let`s make a deal here: Israel withdraws from the West Bank..... 01:07  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/06/08   53.   This conflict is so difficult if you are not a party in it 01:11  |  Mark B. 04/06/08   54.   To #4 Vickery...you are not an expert on the 01:11  |  spade 04/06/08   55.   what else is new ? 01:18  |  alan 04/06/08   56.   Response to writer # 3 01:23  |  Steven Good 04/06/08   57.   THEYwant to poison the minds of the next generation against peace 01:30  |  PETER SM 04/06/08   58.   natallie,the truth does hurt,don`t it,shame you can`t present 01:33  |  terrornator 04/06/08   59.   Making Peace 01:41  |  Dov Ber 04/06/08   60.   #39 The truth hurts Durson 02:07  |  Connie 04/06/08   61.   say ballestic,i see you got enough nerve to sign your own name 02:12  |  terrornator 04/06/08   62.   Why not abolish the Palestinian concentration camps? 02:13  |  Sam 04/06/08   63.   #9 Psychologist 02:24  |  Space 04/06/08   64.   What a weak argument by Hamas 02:24  |  joey 04/06/08   65.   Hamas and their supporters are ridiculous. 02:29  |  ScotGuy 04/06/08   66.   #42 Swiss. I`ve got a deal for you... 02:44  |  Chaim 04/06/08   67.   Reality 02:54  |  Jay Imana 04/06/08   68.   #44 -Swiss(Dino) - You and Your Suggestion Aren`t Fair Enough 03:04  |  JP 04/06/08   69.   ...And who is surprised by this? Hamas and the phony olive branch 03:08  |  Doc Holliday 04/06/08   70.   ballestic,spouting her moronic ,half baked lies again 03:34  |  terrornator 04/06/08   71.   Herr DOKTOR Brnd. no visas for Palestinians or Jews 04:02  |  American in NY 04/06/08   72.   in exchange let Hamas dictate what is in Israeli textbooks 04:05  |  American in NY 04/06/08   73.   Farfur the Mouse: Pal Education Minister 04:19  |  Tex 04/06/08   74.   They won`t even let a few students leave for college ... 04:48  |  Ibrahim 04/06/08   75.   Natalie Durson- Mein Kampf 05:26  |  Avrum 04/06/08   76.   To American in NY, ballistic 05:38  |  Proud Jew 04/06/08   77.   VICKERY The QUR"AN on killing all Jews was LONG before Israel. 05:47  |  PETER SM 04/06/08   78.   Avram Fort Bragg you are right 05:49  |  lola 04/06/08   79.   Lakshmi#49 - Fatah, Hamas, terrorist - who cares 06:11  |  William 04/06/08   80.   #61 Say Terrornator 06:12  |  ballistic 04/06/08   81.   Map Man#45 - please identify yourself and this...map 06:15  |  William 04/06/08   82.   Goy of Israel#29 - please give an example 06:17  |  William 04/06/08   83.   Paulo2005, MR #20,30 - Textbooks 06:21  |  William 04/06/08   84.   Idea For A New T-Shirt Slogan For Visitors To Gaza 06:32  |  Yosemite 04/06/08   85.   Natalie & Nazi Germany 07:03  |  texasgal 04/06/08   86.   re #45 Map Man `Sorry, most maps...` 07:20  |  Colin Wright 04/06/08   87.   re #65 `Hamas and their supporters are ridiculous...` 07:24  |  Colin Wright 04/06/08   88.   Education and Propaganda 07:32  |  texasgal 04/06/08   89.   AMERICAN in NY how does" effort" translate into dictation? If 07:53  |  PETER SM 04/06/08   90.   AMERICAN in NY Re no visas .Do you extend that To US citizens 08:03  |  PETER SM 04/06/08   91.   Dino 09:13  |  x-ray 04/06/08   92.   #1 you`re very..very wrong 09:16  |  Hans 04/06/08   93.   Space 09:18  |  Psychologist 04/06/08   94.   Hate promoting text books should be identified 09:21  |  Ulf 04/06/08   95.   Wrong Colin - Hamas has no truth on its side, no justice 09:25  |  x-ray 04/06/08   96.   Nutallie Durson 10:12  |  CLa 04/06/08   97.   # 66 Chaim, only one (little) problem with your "deal"..... 12:45  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/06/08   98.   # 68 JP 12:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/06/08   99.   # 91 x-ray 12:59  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/06/08   100.   School textbooks 13:21  |  JW 04/06/08   101.   Joe Sittizen #8 Natallie Durson-put up or shut up 14:48  |  Nechama 04/06/08   102.   # 76 A Proud Jew re: ballistic 15:08  |  American in NY 04/06/08   103.   say ballestic,we all know in here what your capable of so denying 18:17  |  terrornator 04/06/08   104.   Swiss (Dino) to JP 19:22  |  David Israel 04/06/08   105.   American in NY Remember USS COLE ? 20:58  |  David Israel 04/06/08   106.   American in NY supports IRAN... 21:10  |  Arthur 04/06/08   107.   David Israel # 105, yes I do remenber and I remember Pollard as w 21:36  |  American in NY 04/06/08   108.   Peter Sm about visas 21:49  |  American in NY 04/06/08   109.   Say Terrornator, you are simply pathetic. 22:12  |  ballistic 04/06/08   110.   #102 American in New York re Proud Jew 22:18  |  ballistic 04/06/08   111.   #105 David Israel 22:22  |  ballistic 04/06/08   112.   Sam#62 - I know 6 million Jews who would be willing to 22:42  |  William 04/06/08   113.   American in NY#106 22:47  |  David Israel 04/06/08   114.   American in NY (2) 22:54  |  David Israel 04/06/08   115.   Marican in NY - Onme more thing 23:17  |  David Israel 04/06/08   116.   American in NY one more thing 01:57  |  David Israel 05/06/08   117.   Ballistic # 102 re: proud Jew, he doesn`t descibe himself 03:18  |  American in NY 05/06/08   118.   David Israel # 113-116 i am touched by your sacrifice 04:45  |  American in NY 05/06/08   119.   American In NY - first page 15:47  |  David Israel 05/06/08   120.   American In NY - second page 15:47  |  David Israel 05/06/08   121.   david UIsrae How does you idea of American values 01:52  |  American in NY 06/06/08

Read & React Olmert: Broad Gaza military operation closer than ever Responses: 98 Bradley Burston: Leave it to Fox News to elect Obama Responses: 53 Mofaz: Israel attack on Iran 'unavoidable' if nuclear program continued Responses: 93 Neve Gordon: When Israelis took driving lessons in Gaza Responses: 14 Yoel Marcus: Obama and the assembly lines of Jewish cliches Responses: 7 Rosner's Domain Obama and Jerusalem: did you really believe him? Guest: Marrying within the faith isn't racism - it's self preservation Should you mess with the Zohan? (WTR) Poll: Philip Roth, Victor Frankl or Leon Uris? What did Obama say to Joe Lieberman? (WTR) More Headlines 20:24 5 Qassams and 5 mortar shells slam into Negev 16:43 Mofaz: Israel attack on Iran 'unavoidable' if nuclear program continued 03:43 PM to Bush, Abbas: I'll weather legal storm, stay in office 18:12 Obama's pro-Israel speech before AIPAC riles Arab press 19:05 Thousands attend 10th annual Gay Pride parade in Tel Aviv 00:50 Israel lags behind Sudan, Pakistan in number of women in legislature 18:16 New database gathers tales of Shanghai's Holocaust refugees 01:36 Olmert hints major Gaza operation is imminent 22:24 A rabbi, an imam and a priest discuss their 'painful verses' 03:07 Olmert aides: Progress made with U.S. on forging common view on Iran 03:54 IDF spokesman: Announce war casualties only once a day 05:20 New radar system in the works to detect mortars from Gaza Previous Editions Select Day 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may

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