According to Israel's Education Minister, the government will ban the use of the Arabic term nakba, meaning catastrophe, that is used to describe the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in 1948 that facilitated the creation of the Israeli state. While the term is not used in predominantly Jewish areas within Israel, it is common to find in textbooks in regions with high Arab populations. The current textbook, which allows the term, was introduced in 2007, when the Education Ministry was run by Yuli Tamir, a member of the more liberal Labor Party. A reference to the nakba in that textbook reads:
The Arabs call the war the nakba -- a war of catastrophe, loss and humiliation -- and the Jews call it the Independence War.A spokesman for the current Education Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, who is a member of the right-wing and ruling Likud party, stated:
After studying the matter with education experts it was decided that the term nakba should be removed. It is inconceivable that in Israel we would talk about the establishment of the state as a catastrophe.The spokesman went on to say that discussion of the term and the events of the nakba will still be allowed if teachers feel the need to introduce the topic, but the term will not be used in any textbook in a public school. This decision applies to textbooks for Arab children in the third grade. Two years ago, as opposition leader, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the term was tantamount to incitement against Israel.
Arab Knesset member Hana Sweid responded by saying:
It's a major attack on the identity of the Palestinian Arab citizens of the state of Israel, on their memories and their adherence to their identity.Another more liberal former Education Minister, Yossi Sarid, also criticized the decision with his statement that, "Zionism has already won in many ways, and can afford to be more confident. We need not be afraid of a word." Jafar Farrah, director of Mossawa, an Israeli-Arab advocacy group, said the removal of the term "complicated the conflict" and is a form of incitement to anger Israel's Arab citizens, who make up an estimated 20% of the country's population.
Turkey Ready to Mediate Israel-Syria Deal
Before leaving on a trip to Syria, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his government was ready to jump back into negotiations between Syria and Israel, a role that Turkey has played in the past. Erdogan stated:
Requests to resume the process have started to come in, we should get to work on this issue. We should be ready [to relaunch the talks]. We are determined to do all we can for peace in the Middle East.However, since Israel's war against Gaza in January, Syria has frozen all contacts with the Israeli government, causing negotiations to halt.
Erdogan is meeting Syrian President Bashar Assad in Alep, in northern Syria. Assad has said that there is no "real partner" for peace in Israel. Meanwhile, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has released a statement:
The prime minister said in the past that he is prepared to renew negotiations with Syria with no preconditions. The prime minister said that he is willing to travel to anywhere necessary to this end, and that any channel – the Turkish or the American one – is legitimate.However, Israel will not commit to returning the Golan Heights to Syria as a precondition to negotiations.
HEADLINES
Settlers: Haredi struggle proves only violence works (Jerusalem Post)
Netanyahu: Israel won't dismantle West Bank fence (Ha'aretz)
'US, Israel rift on settlement issue to be resolved soon' (Jerusalem Post)
Hamas: We won't stand in way of PA-Israel deal (Ha'aretz)
Lebanon speaker slams Israel (AFP)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Israeli forces arrest Palestinian after giving testimony to UN (Ma'an)
Palestinian doctor leaves Gaza conflict (UPI)
Palestinians stuck near Iraq to move to Slovakia: U.N. (Reuters)
Blast injures 50 at wedding for nephew of Fatah leader (CNN)
Israel, PA software firms to cooperate (Jerusalem Post)
Hamas laying low in the West Bank (Jerusalem Post)
Israel
Far-right Israelis enter Al-Aqsa compound (Ma'an)
Israeli forces arrest Palestinian after giving testimony to UN (Ma'an)
Heat turned on Israel over east Jerusalem settlements (AFP)
Charges toughened against IDF officer in shooting of bound Palestinian (Ha'aretz)
Is Israel serious about closing 23 fringe settlements? (Christian Science Monitor)
Israel to use Hitler shot for PR (BBC)
The Neighbors
Nasrallah urges Lebanese to support Resistance (Daily Star)
Egypt: Deporting prisoners unethical (Ynet)
Jordan revokes citizenship of thousands of Palestinians (Israel Today)
Riyadh to host International Conference to defend Islam (Gulf News)
Rights group slams Saudi detentions (Al Jazeera)
US Foreign Policy
Israel slams Clinton statement on nuclear Iran (Ha'aretz)
Clinton Hints at ‘Defense Umbrella’ to Deter Iran (New York Times)
US mulls Gulf defences against Iran (Al Jazeera)
Palestinian security force would be modeled after U.S. National Guard (World Tribune)
International Relations/Law
Jews to return German honors in protest (Jerusalem Post)
Iranian VP claims psychological warfare against Israel (Ynet)
Israel's Pitango eyes $100-200 million China fund: sources (Reuters)
In South America, Israeli FM seeks to block Iran (AP)
Report: Brazil official calls Israeli FM 'fascist' (AP)
Ban calls on Israel, Palestinians to take steps to transform Middle East peace process (UN News Centre)
Arts and Activism
Bil'in protester ordered to remain in prison for duration of trial (Ma'an)
Want to read Harry Potter in Arabic? Not in Israel (Ha'aretz)
Top Ten Cities for Street Art (Reuters)
Misc.
Soccer game or tear gas? Palestinians put controversial ad to test (Ha'aretz)
An Israeli Spy Whose Snares Included the 'Honey Trap' (Wall Street Journal)
U.S. charges 12 in Israel-based lottery fraud (Forbes)
Commentary
Rosen: Foreign Policy: Obama Failing In Israel (NPR)
Hass: The IDF price tag (Ha'aretz)
Hijab: Memories of a lost Arab world (Counterpunch)
Lendman: Dangerous untreated West Bank waste water (Dissident Voice)
Al-Naami: Cementing the rift via dialogue (Al-Ahram)
Amayreh: Apartheid five years on (Al-Ahram)
Abdul-Hussain: None but us to blame (Al-Ahram)
Views expressed on this post or on linked web pages do not represent the Palestine Center, the educational program of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development. All content is for educational purposes only.
