Thursday, September 30, 2010

Until this changes, nothing else will

A Culture of Hatred

Israel Project

Educating for Peace in the Classroom: Israeli Textbooks Teach Children Acceptance and Peace with Palestinians

Despite economic progress and progress on the peace front, Palestinian leaders continue to promote a culture of hatred against Israel. This year, the Palestinian Authority and the ruling Fatah Party, led by Mahmoud Abbas, have named schools, summer camps and football tournaments after Palestinian terrorists while Palestinian politicians have propagated incitement over Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. The Oslo II agreement and the Road Map for Peace explicitly call for an end to incitement. In contrast, when an Israeli Rabbi recently made inflamatory remarks about the Palestinians, Prime Minister Netanyahu was quick to respond, distancing himself and his government from the remarks: “These things do not reflect PM Nethanyahu’s approach, nor do they reflect the position of Israel’s government. Israel is coming to the negotiations when it is willing to move forward to an agreement with the Palestinians that will end the conflict and will secure peace, security and good neighboring between the two peoples.”

Some examples:

* A computer center in Hebron named after Dalal al-Mughrabi in 2009. Al-Mughrabi was a female Palestinian terrorist who in 1978 led a terrorist attack inside Israel, which became known as the Coastal Road Massacre, in which 37 civilians—including 12 children and an American—were killed. [1]
* A town square named after al-Mughrabi in the West Bank town of el-Bireh in March 2010. [2]
* A ceremony held in December 2009 celebrating the birthday of al-Mughrabi. [3]
* A camp named after al-Mughrabi that helped manage a Palestinian elections campaign in March 2010. [4]
* A soccer tournament held in May 2010 in the West Bank town of Abu Dis (outside Jerusalem) named after Palestinian terrorist Abu Jihad who was responsible for planning the Coastal Road Massacre. [5]
* Two educational camps in April 2010 named after Abu Jihad and set up by a Fatah youth committee. [6]
* A street named after Abu Jihad in April 2010 at a ceremony in Ramallah. [7]
* A research center named after Abu Jihad in April 2010. [8]
* A soccer tournament held in May 2010 in Bethlehem named after Palestinian terrorist Abu Daoud. Abu Daoud planned what became known as the Munich Massacre, an attack in which Palestinian terrorists took hostage and ultimately killed 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. [9]

For more information: Palestinian Media Watch


Footnotes:



[1] “Abbas sponsors birthday celebrations honoring terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, killer of 37,” Palestinian Media Watch, Dec. 31, 2009, http://www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=1526

[2] “Senior Fatah officials joined Fatah youth movement in "popular inauguration" ceremony for terrorist square,” Palestinian Media Watch, March 14, 2010, http://www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=1802

[3] “Abbas sponsors birthday celebrations honoring terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, killer of 37,” Palestinian Media Watch, Dec. 31, 2009, http://www.palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=1526

[4] “From Terrorists to Role Models: The Palestinian Authority’s Institutionalization of Incitement,” Palestinian Media Watch, May 2010, http://palwatch.org/STORAGE/special%20reports/PA%20honors%20terrorists%20Final%20Eng.pdf

[5] “Glorifying terrorists and terror,” Palestinian Media Watch, http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=448, accessed July 29, 2010

[6] “From Terrorists to Role Models: The Palestinian Authority’s Institutionalization of Incitement,” Palestinian Media Watch, May 2010, http://palwatch.org/STORAGE/special%20reports/PA%20honors%20terrorists%20Final%20Eng.pdf

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] “Abu Daoud,” The Daily Telegraph, July 4, 2010, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/7871498/Abu-Daoud.html; “Glorifying terrorists and terror,” Palestinian Media Watch, http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=448. Accessed July 29, 2010

Comment: The West has an important role in the ME if it truly is interested in peace.Until the incitement stops no peace is possible.Until the Arab community's minds and attitudes are collectively shifted, there is no possibility for peace. Until brave Arab leaders stand tall and say "it is not a dishonor to live in harmony with the Jews or even the country of Israel-we do not loose face by extending a hand of peace.We need to transcend our ancient ways and demonstrate the greatness of Arab society by such a gesture."

If the West would put the effort, time and money into this message, peace would be a legitimate possibility.

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