Naqba denial in textbooks

According to the Associated Press in Jerusalem, Israel has chosen to strike references to al-naqba from textbooks for Arab schoolchildren. The term is already absent from textbooks for Jewish children, but will now be absent from textbooks for Arab schoolchildren as well. This is a gross oppression of thought.

According to Education Minister Gideo Saar, in an address to the Israeli parliament: "No other country in the world, in its official curriculum, would treat the fact of its founding as a catastrophe." I in fact remember quite clearly learning about the oppression and murder of Native Americans in this country, the trail of tears specifically, and I also remember learning about slavery. So, I must disagree with Mr. Saar, there are countries which in their official curriculum teach the diverse opinions surrounding their founding (though, as Americans we still belittle the Native American genocide brought on by white colonization).

Furthermore, nationalist actions such as this only weaken efforts at reconciliation between the two sides. A Jewish child brought up ignorant of history will only be more likely to misunderstand an Arab child's fury on Israel Independence day, while an Arab child taught to ignore his own people's past will only feel hatred toward those who oppress the truth. There will be no reconciliation between the sides without understanding and there will be no understanding without proper education. Measures such as this should never be allowed and we here at UBSJP will do our best to promote both truths of May 14, 1948.

To see the AP article, click here: Israel cuts Palestinian narrative from texts

Palestinians reject any deal between Israel-US allowing for settlement growth to continue

Reuters published today an article titled, "Palestinians reject any Israel-U.S. settlement deal." I find the title misleading as any casual observer would be led to believe the Palestinians are "rejectionists," a term used to negatively convey any Arab state who is "refusing" to negotiate with Israel. The article is actually discussing Palestinian discontent about a recent Maariv (Israeli newspaper) report, which stated that the US and Israel had come to an agreement allowing for the construction of 2,500 housing units in the West Bank. The report was denied by the US state department; however, Israeli officials have refused to comment on the report, neither denying nor confirming the Maariv report. Palestinians are reasonably concerned about such reports.

Over the years of the Oslo negotiations (the failed peace talks of 1993-2000), settlements increased by 78% at a previously unseen pace. This while the American public was flooded with reports of peace talks. The reason for such an increase in growth during peace talks is up to speculation. Gershom Gorenberg, a noted Israeli author, believes it is related to settlers fearing the end of settlements and thus rushing to complete construction, while Israeli authorities work parallel to the settlers to solidify West Bank land grabs and thus change "the realities on the ground," to quote from Taba. I agree with Gorenberg on why settlements have grown most prodigiously during peace talks and thus fear any peace talks, which do not begin on the condition that settlement growth stop. The peace talks would serve again to deflect attention away from the issue of settlements, while settlers grow untended in numbers, and peace talks amble along. Peace "talks," a favorite of the Western powers working to end the conflict, are never guaranteed to lead to peace (exhibit a: the Oslo years). Therefore, it is crucial that the realities on the ground do not change and the chance for a two-state solution is not lost.

The Palestinian negotiators seem to feel the same way: there is no negotiations with Israel without a stop to settlements. According to Saeb Erekat, "There are no middle-ground solutions for the settlement issue: either settlement activity stops or it doesn't stop." I still feel strongly that Reuters has however taken what is truly a reasonable Palestinian position (one shared by the US and its President) and made it out to be unreasonable, radical, and out of step with the US and Israel. Meanwhile, the US remains clear of any criticism for its hypocritical actions, and Israel appears to be the victim of Palestinian inflexibility,asking for a reasonable exemption: "we only want 'natural growth', Daddy Obama." In summary, Reuters has expertly crafted another article painting the Palestinians in negative light and avoiding strong criticism of Israeli intransigence on settlements.

One lesson for Reuters reporters: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

Gaza: Two Palestinian girls stand on the balcony of their bullet riddled home

Palestinian girls stand on the balcony of the ruined house in Rafa, hit during Israel's 22-day offensive against Gaza earlier this year, 2 July 2009 (Photo SAID KHATIB/AFP)