Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Israeli textbook promotes religion & ethno-nationalism, dismissive of Arabs

"The first part of the book defends Israel's existence as a Jewish nation state. The authors describe Israeli nationalism as an "ethno-cultural" entity that identifies with the Jewish nation." "Another standout trend in the new text is a rather negative, dismissive attitude toward Israeli Arab society, especially the Muslims." "It is worth noting that the book contains nearly nothing about the status of women in Jewish society, and there is for example not a single mention of discrimination faced by women among the ultra-Orthodox, or the enduring controversy over increasing instances of exclusion of  women from public venues in deference to rabbis' demands."