Archive – 2018

Veto Gate (Egypt) — Dec. 19, 2018
Egyptian News outlet Veto Gate reported on a recent German BILD article carried by the Jerusalem Post on the controversy with Angela Merkel’s goverment and the German parliament over Palestinian hate-infused textbooks (from IMPACT-se report) that Germany has been helping to pay for with taxpayer money. English Article Here

Sputnik — Dec. 19, 2018
While Angela Merkel’s government dished out hefty amounts of cash to the Palestinian Authority for school education, a new [IMPACT-se] report has suggested that the new Palestinian curriculum used in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem has become more radical than before.

The Tower.org — Dec. 19, 2018
The German government has come under fire for funding Palestinian schoolbooks that praise martyrdom and glorify Palestinian terrorists. IMPACT-se reported that PA textbooks had become even “more radical,” despite assurances from the PA Ministry of Education that they hadn’t.

The Tower.org — Dec. 18, 2018
IMPACT-se CEO Marcus Sheff said in an interview with The Jewish Chronicle: “After being presented with nearly one hundred examples of antisemitism, hate and glorification of terrorism in the Palestinian education system that it funds, the best idea the UK government seems to have is to examine the Israeli curriculum, which it does not fund.

The Jerusalem Post — Dec. 17, 2018
Responding to a news article by the major German daily, BILD, that exposed German financing of the Palestinian Authority’s education department, a German member of the federal parliament urged Chancellor Angela Merkel’s administration to explain why taxpayer funds are being used to stoke Palestinian hatred and violence in school books. The article was based on extensive research by IMPACT-se.

BILD — Dec. 15, 2018
Following the completion by the Palestinian Authority (PA) of its curricular reform, analysts from the organization “IMPACT-se” have documented dozens of examples of the veneration of terrorists and a martyr cult in the new textbooks for Grades 1-12. But the new texts are apparently even more radical than the old ones, as currently shown by IMPACT’s study.  Article in English

The Jewish Chronicle — Dec. 18, 2018
Labour Friends of Israel has called it “shameful” that a review into Palestinian textbooks–that teach children anti-Semitism and are partly funded by British aid money–will also investigate Israeli textbooks. Marcus Sheff, CEO of IMPACT-se, whose report on the PA initiated the review, said: “The Israel curriculum, while not being perfect, meets UNESCO-derived standards of peace and tolerance. It identifies peace as the ultimate goal, depicting it as highly desirable and achievable.”

The Jewish Star — Nov. 30, 2018
Until the Palestinian Authority ends youth incitement in textbooks and throughout the general culture—and until European  and other governments  (whose aid money funds such provocation) do something about it—the cycle of anti-Israel, anti-Semitic violence will continue unabated, even while watchdog organizations, such as Palestinian Media Watch and IMPACT-se monitor such actions.

Jewish News Syndicate — Nov. 19, 2018
Until the Palestinian Authority ends youth incitement in textbooks, summer camps and in its general culture—and until European and other governments whose aid money funds such provocation do something about it—the cycle of anti-Israel, anti-Jewish violence will continue unabated, even while watchdog organizations monitor such actions.

The Jerusalem Post — Sept. 27, 2018
The European Parliament’s budgetary committee voted to freeze more than 15 million euros from the Palestinian Authority if they do not remove incitement from their textbooks after European parliamentarians were made aware of the contents of the PA Textbooks through a recent report by IMPACT-se.

Jewish News Syndicate — Oct. 2, 2018
The European Parliament’s Budgetary Control Committee will vote on whether to freeze more than 15 million euros ($17 million) in aid to the Palestinian Authority unless it removes incitement to violence against Israel in its school textbooks.  A call to vote follows a report on the new Palestinian textbooks by IMPACT-se, proving that they “encourage Palestinian children to sacrifice their lives in the name of religion,”and “glorified martyrdom and violent resistance.”

the algemeiner (Shiri Moshe) — Sept. 28, 2018
The European Parliament Budgetary Committee on Tuesday approved a bill to withhold some payments to the Palestinian Authority until it commits to reforming its school curriculum, which has been accused of inciting hatred toward Israel and Jews, among others. A report released by the research group IMPACT-se earlier this month accused grade 1–12 PA textbooks of portraying the entirety of Israel as Arab territory, glorifying martyrdom and mass-murderers, and referring to Jews as “sinful and liars.”

i24 (Eylon Levy) — Sept. 27, 2018
“The European Parliament’s Budget Committee has voted to freeze 15 million euros ($17.6 mllion) in aid to the Palestinian Authority till it commits to reform its textbooks … Marcus Sheff, the CEO of IMPACT-Se, whose research influenced the committee, welcomed the news and called on the European Parliament to increase its pressure. ‘Ultimately, the reserve is the best possible method of stopping the hate in textbooks and giving Palestinian children a change of peace education,’ he said.”

Jewish Telegraphic Agency — Sept. 27, 2018
A European Parliament committee voted to freeze more than $17 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority over incitement against Israel, based on analysis from The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) of the new Palestinian textbooks aimed to encourage Palestinian children “to sacrifice their lives in the name of religion” and “glorify martyrdom and violent resistance.”

Jewish News (UK) — Sept. 27, 2018
The European Parliament is set to withhold £13.7 million in funding for the Palestinian Authority until it reforms textbooks that currently include “violent depictions and hate speech.” “This is the first time that a reserve on PA funds has been adopted by the committee, until changes to the textbooks are made,” said Marcus Sheff, CEO of IMPACT-se, an Israel-based organization campaigning for reform in Palestinian education.  IMPACT Report

TIMES OF NEWS — Sept. 27, 2018
The European Parliament Budgetary Committee voted to freeze over 15 million Euros from the Palestinian Authority if they do not remove incitement from their textbooks in part based on a report by IMPACT-se. IMPACT’s CEO, Marcus Sheff, explained that once European Parliamentarians were made aware of the contents of PA textbooks,”No matter what part you’re in, you don’t want … to be paying to encourage jihad or a one-state solution.”

World Israel News (Staff Reports) — Sept. 27, 2018
If a committee bill passes next month, the EU will withhold over 15 million euros from the PA as long as it continues to incite acts of terror in its textbooks. Marcus Sheff, CEO of IMPACT-se, which brought the curriculum to the attention of the committee said: “We are delighted that our policy recommendations have been taken up and are certain this will help sway the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Education to stop inciting 1.2 million Palestinian children and take hate out of their curriculum.”  IMPACT Report

the algemeiner (Shiri Moshe) –Sept. 26, 2018
Palestinian Authority textbooks encourage children to view the entirety of Israel as Arab territory, and teach them to seek the land’s liberation even at the cost of martyrdom, according to a new report by the Jerusalem-based research group, IMPACT-se (Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education).

Haaretz (Fast Forward/Aiden Pink) — Sept. 24, 2018
Textbooks for seemingly innocuous subjects, created as part of the Palestinian Authority’s new K-12 educational curriculum are heavily politicized with violent streaks, teaching Palestinian children that “there can be no compromise” and “indoctrinate for death and martyrdom,” according to an analysis by watchdog group, IMPACT-se.

i24 (Eyton Levy) — Sept. 20, 2018
According to an analysis of textbooks for grades 1-12 by the Jerusalem-based IMPACT-se, the reformed curriculum has the ‘central goal’ of encouraging Palestinian children ‘to sacrifice their lives in the name of religion,’ glorifying martyrdom and violent resistance.

Jewish Post — September 18, 2018
The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) a research institute based at the Hebrew University that analyzes schoolbooks and curricula within the prism of UNESCO-defined standards on peace and tolerance, has released an updated report evaluating the new Palestinian school curriculum (for the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem) to be taught in the upcoming academic year.

By Eldad J. Pardo, IMPACT-se — September 2018

IMPACT-se’s latest research on the new Palestinian curriculum for the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem includes recently published textbooks for the 2018-19 school year. The curriculum presents a common radical voice accommodating the full spectrum of extreme nationalist and Islamist ideologies in both Gaza and the West Bank, including anti-Semitic motifs amid continuous themes of struggle, heorism and martyrdom.
Full Report   Findings and Analysis

Marcus Sheff (TOI Blog) — Aug. 27, 2018
IMPACT-se—The Institute for Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education, was asked to help create curricula for this unique, inspirational school and its refugee children who survived the treacherous boat crossing from Turkey to Lesbos. It was the least we could do.

the algemeiner — Aug. 27, 2018
The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) is partnering with the International School of Peace (ISOP) on the Greek island of Lesbos to develop a peace curriculum for young asylum-seekers. The 400 students–ages 5 to 16– will be taught subjects including English, math, and language skills in their mother tongue, whether Arabic, Persian, or French.

Commentary — July 20, 2018
Article points to waning influence of Iran in Syria and Iraq and cites new Impact-se study on Syrian curriculum—portraying Russia as a close ally while relationship with Iran is seen as “lukewarm, at best.”

Jüdische Algemeine — July 19, 2018
Interview (German) with IMPACT-se CEO Marcus Sheff on anti-Semitism in Syrian textbooks and the radicalization of children.
Report

Jerusalem Post (Op-ed by IMPACT-se CEO, Marcus Sheff) — July 14, 2018
The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) has obtained and carefully analyzed the current Syrian curriculum. Its newly released report offers a unique insight into the regime’s identity and who it considers its strategic allies, competitors and foes.

Haaretz — July 12, 2018
Research and policy institute IMPACT-se’s latest report on how the Syrian curriculum views Israel and the West; Russia; Iran and Hezbollah; the civil war; minorities; and its own national identity—and which alliances are likely to last long after the war is over.    Haaretz Article (pdf)

YNET — July 12, 2018
Interview by IMPACT-se’s CEO Marcus Sheff on the institute’s recent Syria report: “While Syrian children witness the civil war raging around them, their textbooks give no explanation for this war … There is no hope that Syria will moderate its traditional Ba’athist hostility towards Israel even after the end of this terrible civil war,” he said.

Al-Akhbar (et al) — July 11, 2018
In response to IMPACT-se’s recent Syria report, the largest pro-Hezbollah Lebanese daily newspaper Al-Akhbar worries about IMPACT’s ability to “interfere and influence the contents of textbooks in the Arab countries.” The article was posted by the Syrian Government and an official Hezbollah website, among other major news sites in the MENA region.   English Translation

The Jewish Chronicle (UK) — July 12, 2018
A new study by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) of new Syrian textbooks used in the war-stricken state found that they attempt to wipe out any references to the existence of Israel with maps labelled “Palestine” or “Occupied Palestine.”

YNET Magazine — July 12, 2018
A new study from IMPACT-se provides a glimpse into the Syrian school curriculum, which demonizes Zionism, describes the “Golan heist” and is rife with anti-Semitic content, amidst admiration for Russia.

the algemeiner — July 11, 2018
Recently-released Syrian textbooks introduce Russia as a close ally while presenting Iran and Turkey as regional competitors, suggesting that Damascus’ current alignment with Tehran may be temporary, a new IMPACT-se report claims.

Jerusalem Post –July 11, 2018
A new IMPACT-se report analyzing the Syrian curriculum in schools controlled by the regime found many references of hatred of other nations, and of Israel in particular, and did not meet UNESCO’s standards for peace and tolerance.

By Eldad Pardo and Maya Jacobi, IMPACT-se – July 2018

For seven consecutive years a brutal civil war has been raging in Syria. This study of the Syrian curriculum examines the updated 2017–18  education contents in the areas controlled by the Assad regime while the civil war continues to rage. It offers a unique look at a people in the midst of a mortal crisis.

Full Report              Executive Summary

The Sunday Times — April 1, 2018
More than £20m of British aid money has been spent on Palestinian schools in the past year, despite ministers knowing the official new Palestinian curriculum could incite pupils to become martyrs and jihadists, according to a report by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se). Article (pdf)