Ministry for Diaspora Affairs | October 2024

19 The term ‘Occupied Territories of 1948’ in the textbooks replaces the expression ‘Israel’s territory [from before 1967].’ For example, ‘The table below clarifies the numbers of Palestinians in 2015 according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics: Region Population Judea and Samaria and Gaza Strip 4,750,000 Within the 1948 occupied territories 1,470,000 In Arab countries 5,460,000 In other countries 685,000 ”Arrange the areas where Palestinians are located in descending order according to population.”

21 The erasure of Israel and its current inhabitants corresponds to the denial of any past connection Jews have to the land. Furthermore, the connection is portrayed as a fabrication: “..The occupier built an artificial entity for itself that draws its identity and legitimacy from fairy tales, legends, and false visions, and it tried through various methods to create living material evidence for these legends or archaeological and architectural proofs to confirm their validity and truth, but to no avail.” “The Arabic Language – Academic Track,” 10th Grade, Part B 22 Teachers are being instructed to tell students that Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are in danger due to actions taken by Israel. This message is not only for students, but it is widespread in Palestinian society and beyond and has the potential to provoke violent outbursts and terrorism. 23 “Jerusalem is currently subject to something targeting its people, its holy places, and its civilization. The occupation imposes restrictions on Palestinian residents and prevents them from reaching places of worship or sets up checkpoints to make their movement difficult, exposing them to searches and humiliation. The occupation also conducts excavations beneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which may result in its collapse. In addition, it seizes lands and properties of the Islamic Waqf, cemeteries, etc., and alters some of the holy sites, such as Al-Buraq Wall [the Western Wall]. 9 (Teacher’s Guide, Arabic Language – Academic Pathway, 10th grade [2018]).

(Mathematics textbook, 4th grade, Part A). 20 In line with this trend, the term ‘Zionist occupation’ frequently appears in textbooks instead of ‘State of Israel.’ For example, ‘...the Arab armies withdrew from Palestine, and the Rhodes Armistice of 1949 was signed separately between the Zionist occupation and Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon.’ (Geography and Modern History of Palestine, 10th grade, Part B).

9 The Western Wall has been a holy site for Jews since the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. It is also a sacred place for Muslims to some extent, based on the Islamic belief that the Prophet Muhammed reached this location from the city of Mecca in the Arabian Peninsula in one night in the early 7th century CE, riding a celestial creature called Al-Buraq, which he tied to the wall before ascending to the heavens for a brief stay, after which he returned to Mecca. In Islamic tradition, the wall has two Arabic names. One is “Al-Buraq Wall (Hait al-Buraq),” which refers to the event above according to tradition, and the other is “The Wall of the Place of Weeping (Hait al-Mabka),” referring to the practice of Jews weeping and mourning there. The existence of this latter name in Arabic is clear evidence of the traditional recognition of the site by Arabs and Muslims as a holy place for Jews, something that is denied today.

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