Palestinian Authority Curriculum Promotes Violence, Violates Reform Pledges

Recent reports reveal that the Palestinian Authority's (PA) educational curriculum for Gaza continues to endorse violence and antisemitism, despite promises to reform made to the European Union in July 2024. The PA's new online textbooks, introduced amid the ongoing conflict, glorify jihad and martyrdom, depicting figures like Dalal al-Mughrabi as heroes while promoting hatred toward Jews and Israel. This curriculum, intended for over 290,000 students, has been criticized by watchdogs like the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) for its failure to align with UNESCO standards and for perpetuating narratives of extremism. The PA's continued use of such materials raises concerns among international donors, who expect educational reforms in exchange for funding. Critics argue that as long as Hamas controls Gaza and the education system, the cycle of violence and radicalism will persist, undermining hopes for peace. Calls for the EU to leverage its funding to enforce curriculum changes that promote tolerance and coexistence have intensified.