Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Labour - Denton and Reddish)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 25 January 2021 to Question 143050 on Palestinians: Textbooks, how many mistakes in educational material published by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency UNRWA have been identified by UNRWA since 1 January 2020.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We strongly condemn all forms of violence and incitement to violence. We accompany our support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) with stringent attention to implementation of their neutrality policy, including how they apply this to textbooks and other learning material to ensure they reflect UN values. We understand that UNRWA has continued to review and address any education materials in breach of its policies. We remain confident that UNRWA has taken the issue seriously and has taken steps to improve their risk management system and quality assurance of educational materials.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Labour - Denton and Reddish)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the cost of educational materials with hateful content in the Palestinian education system that were recalled by the UN Relief and Works Agency.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We have not made this assessment. The UK will continue to monitor UNRWA's implementation of its curriculum framework to ensure UNRWA's educational materials, including those on the digital learning platform, are in line with UN values. We accompany our support for UNRWA with stringent attention to implementation of their neutrality policy, including how they apply this to any educational materials.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the most effective ways to avoid educational materials with hateful content funded by the UK being produced for Palestinian children.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
It is essential to have a strong and thriving Palestinian education system to provide opportunities for the next generation. We have been clear that incitement to hatred or violence is unacceptable from all parties and should have no place in education. We will continue to raise concerns about this with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and continue to urge all parties to condemn incitement wherever and whenever it occurs.
Mentions:
1: Mary Robinson (CON - Cheadle) Like her, I visited Israel with the Conservative Friends of Israel and spoke to Israelis and Palestinians - Speech Link
2: Andy Slaughter (LAB - Hammersmith) What the Israelis have been able to do to the Palestinians over 53 years of military occupation, with - Speech Link
3: Chris Green (CON - Bolton West) We have influence and the ability to apply pressure on the Palestinians. My right hon. - Speech Link
4: Brendan O'Hara (SNP - Argyll and Bute) However, attempts to portray Palestinians as somehow uniquely hateful and violent are utterly nonsensical - Speech Link
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made for the implications of his policies of the finding by the review commissioned by the EU of the content of Palestinian Authority school textbooks that those textbooks encourage and glorify violence against Israelis and Jews.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We have been clear that incitement to hatred or violence is unacceptable from all parties and should have no place in education. This report on Palestinian textbooks highlights progress in key areas, but also indicates that anti-Israel content remains. We will continue to raise concerns about this with the Palestinian Authority, and continue to urge all parties to condemn incitement wherever and whenever it occurs.
Asked by: Lee Anderson (Reform UK - Ashfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on the publication date of the EU-funded review of the content of Palestinian Authority school textbooks.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The Georg Eckert Institute, who were commissioned by the EU to undertake a review into Palestinian textbooks published the final report on 18 June 2021. The UK engaged closely with our European partners to urge publication. The review is publicly accessible on their website: www.gei.de/en/departments/knowledge-in-transition/analysis-of-palestinian-textbooks-paltex.html
Found: EU Review into Palestinian school textbooks
Mentions:
1: None [Relevant document: e-petition 585309, Condemn Israel for their treatment of Palestine and Palestinians - Speech Link
2: Naz Shah (LAB - Bradford West) The Palestinians have suffered for too long. The time for empty words is over. - Speech Link
3: Christian Wakeford (LAB - Bury South) It is a troubling prospect that teachers supported by UK taxpayers’ money use textbooks that normalise - Speech Link
4: Julie Elliott (LAB - Sunderland Central) The daily lives of Palestinians are worse than ever. - Speech Link
5: Wayne David (LAB - Caerphilly) The city of Jerusalem must be shared by Palestinians and Israelis. - Speech Link
Asked by: Craig Tracey (Conservative - North Warwickshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress has been made on the international review into the content of Palestinian Authority school textbooks.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
We understand the review is in the final stages and the final report is due to be completed shortly. We continue to engage with the EU at a senior level and push for timely publication. We will review the findings carefully before deciding on any next steps.
Mentions:
1: Andrew Selous (CON - South West Bedfordshire) What diplomatic steps he is taking to support peace between Israel and the Palestinians. - Speech Link
2: Nicola Richards (CON - West Bromwich East) What diplomatic steps he is taking to support peace between Israel and the Palestinians. - Speech Link
3: Sheryll Murray (CON - South East Cornwall) What diplomatic steps he is taking to support peace between Israel and the Palestinians. - Speech Link
4: Nicola Richards (CON - West Bromwich East) Despite assurances that, after countless delays, the EU review of Palestinian textbooks would be published - Speech Link
5: James Cleverly (CON - Braintree) I remind the House that the UK does not fund the textbooks used in Palestinian schools. - Speech Link