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The situation for Palestinian children is more complex than that of Isreali children because they live in such varied circumstances. There are Palistinian children living within Israel. Other Palistinian children live in the occuopied East Bank, Gaza, refugee camps (such as in Lebanon), and other varied circumstances in other countries, mostly Arab countries. Different Arab countries adopted varied regulations for the Palestinians. Some Arab countries confined the Palestinians to refugee camps. Others persued more open policies. The Palestinians today exist in apauling conditions. But this was not the case during Isreli occupation. The collapse of the Palestinian economy has occurred since the Palestinians took cotrol of their communities as aResult of the Oslo Peace Process (1993). This has radically affected the lives of Palestinian children. Of particular concern is a kind of culture of death that appears to be promoted for the children by both Fatah and Hamas. Many issues concerning the Isreali-Palestinian conflict are complex and difficult to understand. One issue that can not be contested is that the Palestinians are teaching their children to hate. There is no question that the Palestinians are doing this. The question is why they are doing it. This is one of the principal reasons that the conflict has endured. And it is one of the most distressing of the many aspects of the conflict. A factor here is the Koran which has many terrible things to say about Jews. Given the centrality of the Koran to Islam, this is a major problem, but it not the only one. Another reason is that Palestinians are teaching hatred in the hope that the next generation will reclaim Palestine by force of arms.
The situation for Palestinian children is more complex than that of Isreali children because they live in such varied circumstances. There are Palistinian children living within Israel. Other Palistinian children live in the occuopied East Bank, Gaza, refugee camps (such as in Lebanon), and other varied circumstances in other countries, mostly Arab countries. The situation of Palestinian children varies widely in the different areas in which they live. Ironically, perhaps the most properous Palestinians are those that live in Israel. Different Arab countries adopted varied regulations for the Palestinians. Some Arab countries confined the Palestinians to refugee camps. Others persued more open policies. The Egyptians after the 1948-49 War retained control of Gaza and set up refugeee camps, and did not allow the Palestinians to integrate into Egyptian society. Many Arab countries restricted employment opportunities for Palestinians. The West Bank was at first annexed by Jordon (1949). Israel occupied it as a result of the 6 Days War (1967). Israel also occupied Gaza. The Palestinians today exist in apauling conditions. But this was not the case during Isreli occupation. The collapse of the Palestinian economy has occurred since the Palestinians took cotrol of their communities as a result of the Oslo Peace Process (1993). This has radically affected the lives of Palestinian children.
Of particular concern is a kind of culture of death that appears to be promoted for the children by both Fatah and Hamas.
Many issues concerning the Isreali-Palestinian conflict are complex and difficult to understand. One issue that can not be contested is that the Palestinians are teaching their children to hate. There is no question that the Palestinians are doing this. The question is why they are doing it. This is one of the principal reasons that the conflict has endured. And it is one of the most distressing of the many aspects of the conflict. A factor here is the Koran which has many terrible things to say about Jews. Islam is often presented as a religion of peace and love. In actuality there are many Koranic passages which teach hatred toward Jews and promote violence and war. Given the centrality of the Koran to Islam, this is a major problem, but it not the only one. Another reason is that Palestinians are teaching hatred in the hope that the next generation will reclaim Palestine by force of arms.
A Palestinian observer writes, "The Israeli Arab Conflict is not about geography but about Jew hatred; Throughout the Islamic as well as Christendom's history Jews have been persecuted, the persecution of Israel is just the same as the old antisemitism. The Arab refugees are being used as pawns' to create a terror breeding ground, as a form of aggression against Israel. The Arab refugee problem was caused by Arab aggression and not Israel. Why should Israel be responsible for their fate?” [Shoebat]
The subject of Palestinian education is also complicated. The Palestinians live in the occupied West Bank and unoccupied Gaza. We have very limited information at this time on the curriculum or effectiveness in terms of student achievement of Palestinian education. Financing schools has been a major problem fpr the Palestinians. Here they have obtained funding from a range of international donors. There appear to be differences among Palestinians about education. The main-stream Fatah movement has taken a largely secular approach. The growing Hamas Movement has a more Islamicist approach.
Shoebat, Walid. "Walid Shoebat: From Hate to Love, website accessed July 19, 2007. Shoebat was a former PLO fighter who participated in terror acts and was for a time imprisoned in Israel. The link here is to his website which takes a very different look at the conflict than most Palestinian sources.
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