Palestine in Israeli School Books: Ideology and Propaganda in Education (Library of Modern Middle East Studies) Paperback – August 7, 2012
by Nurit Peled-Elhanan (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars (46)
4.3 on Goodreads
58 ratings
Each year, Israel's young men and women are drafted into compulsory military service and are required to engage directly in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This conflict is by its nature intensely complex and is played out under the full glare of international security. So, how does Israel's education system prepare its young people for this? How is Palestine, and the Palestinians against whom these young Israelis will potentially be required to use force, portrayed in the school system? Nurit Peled-Elhanan argues that the textbooks used in the school system are laced with a pro-Israel ideology, and that they play a part in priming Israeli children for military service. She analyzes the presentation of images, maps, layouts and use of language in History, Geography and Civic Studies textbooks, and reveals how the books might be seen to marginalize Palestinians, legitimize Israeli military action and reinforce Jewish-Israeli territorial identity. This book provides a fresh scholarly contribution to the Israeli-Palestinian debate, and will be relevant to the fields of Middle East Studies and Politics more widely.
Editorial Reviews
'Nurit Peled-Elhanan's study of propaganda in Israeli school books is thorough and accessible. With academic analysis supported by examples and illustrations, this book gives a whole new meaning to complaints about 'teaching children to hate' in the Middle East.' – Ben White, journalist and author of Israeli Apartheid: A Beginner's Guide'Nurit Peled-Elhanan's pioneering work on the way Israeli school books teach students about Palestinians should stand with Frances Fitzgerald's America ReviSited as the standard reference on the mis-teaching of history and geography. This scholarly work is a riposte to those who complain that the school books of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation poisons Palestinians against Israelis. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the Middle East conflict today.' – Charles Glass, broadcaster, journalist and writer specialising in the Middle East'This book presents a means, a methodology, which reveals clearly and in a rigorous way the ideological bases underlying forms of texts - in this case school books. It is one which has wide applicability and therefore wide appeal, in any situation where school books are studied, but even well beyond that. This book is academically well grounded, sound, with real application, politically highly significant and with a wide potential readership in the areas of Sociology, Education and studies of language.' – Gunther Kress, Professor in the Centre for Multimodal Research, Faculty of Culture and Pedagogy, the Institute of Education, University of London
About the Author
Nurit Peled-Elhanan is Lecturer in Language Education in the Faculty of Education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A co-recipient of the 2001 Sakharov Prize for Human Rights and the Freedom of Thought, awarded by the European Parliament, she has written extensively on Israeli education, and is a regular speaker and writer both in Europe and in the USA on matters concerning the Israeli occupation and its effects on both Israelis and Palestinians. She is a member of the Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Parents for Peace, and one of the founders of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine 2009.
Product details
Publisher : I.B. Tauris
Publication date : August 7, 2012
Language : English
Print length : 280 pages
Part of series : Library of Modern Middle East Studies
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Customer Reviews:
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (46)
20 people found this helpful
Vladek
5.0 out of 5 stars Truth Versus PropagandaReviewed in the United States on February 13, 2013
Verified Purchase
For years Israel has claimed that Palestinians teach demonization of Jews in their schools. That allegation has not been proven. This book, by a noted Israeli Jewish scholar, provides evidence that Israeli textbooks advance the Israeli propaganda story rather than a truthful accounting of history. The protrayal of Palestinians in Israeli history textbooks creates a culture of distrust and dislike of Palestinians.
35 people found this helpful
===
Spencer42
4.0 out of 5 stars Sad!Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2016
Verified Purchase
The information is very important and well researched but the writing is too academic so it's a little hard to read. Reading it all made me realize why Israelis have such a low opinion of Palestinians and are so convinced that land lived on by Palestinians for centuries actually belongs to Jews. The indoctrination starts with their schools. Sad!
14 people found this helpful
===
Anne Burns
5.0 out of 5 stars A revealing and important look at Israeli textbooksReviewed in the United States on December 7, 2013
Verified Purchase
An important book about the racism and discrimination in Israeli school texts by an Israeli expert on education and discourse analysis. The author is a member of a distinguished Israeli family, which has produced other outspoken champions of justice.
17 people found this helpful
===
Alexander
5.0 out of 5 stars good, honest writingReviewed in the United States on April 23, 2015
Verified Purchase
good, honest writing. hard to find truth like this in the Us-Israel relationship. a must-read for those who are interested in making a change for peace and justice
13 people found this helpful
===
AJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything in this book is accurateReviewed in the United States on February 24, 2025
Everything the books outlines I experienced myself growing up in that school system. They didn't even capture the worse of it, to be honest.
So if you're wondering how an entire nation can be fine with war crimes, genocide, and apartheid, this book will give you insight into how the brainwash us from an early age to hate others.
4 people found this helpful
==
Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Four StarsReviewed in the United States on February 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
An eye opener on how incitement is brought into the Israeli classrooms
8 people found this helpful
==
Addison Bross
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United States on April 7, 2015
Verified Purchase
A valuable account of one method by which the Palestinian people are controlled by a ruthless dictatorship.
14 people found this helpful
==
Top reviews from other countries
Translate all reviews to English
Angelo
4.0 out of 5 stars rivelatoreReviewed in Italy on November 15, 2014
Verified Purchase
Un libro , e soprattutto un'autrice , vigliaccamente boicottata. Questo libro racconta la verità nascosta a tutto il mondo dell'apartheid in Palestina.
Report
Translate review to English
S McArdle
5.0 out of 5 stars A shocking but essential readReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2020
Verified Purchase
I was shocked to learn what goes on in this day & age: The prejudice & racism shown towards the Palestinians (evidenced by a Jewish professor in this book) reminds me of how Germans portrayed the Jews in cartoons, books & newspapers pre-World War Two :(
==
André Gargoura
5.0 out of 5 stars Devastating study of israeli propaganda !!!Reviewed in France on May 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
Seriously-documented attack on the israeli's manipulation of historical, geographical, sociological truths and of ethics, in order to replace facts by zionist ideology, basically in education -- reduced to teaching children to hate -- but actually extended to the world at large where the same pseudo-arguments are being used...
On the wrong track of trying to justify an ethnocratic regime while refusing to even consider the only democratic two-state solution, Israel's political authorities -- with eye's wide shut as the last step of the grand plan is taking place, i.e. the annexation of zone C -- don't see that they are heading directly from an apartheid de facto towards an apartheid de jure !!!
And that's the most dramatic outcome that Nurit Peled-Elhanan shows us...
===
Richard Morris
5.0 out of 5 stars Exposes Israeli LiesReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 15, 2012
Verified Purchase
A serious academic studyy of the iniquities of Israeli education policies. The author's daughter was murdered by a suicide bomber so it is admirable and brave of her to expose Israel and to discuss the horrors they continue to perpetrate on the Palestinians and the the use of education as propaganda
===
Inger
4.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable propaganda in Israeli schoolbooksReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
To read this very wellwritten book - remembering that Israel calls itself a democratic state - is odd. Mrs Peled-Elhanan - an Israeli - having lost her own daughter - deserves deeply respect to have investigated this theme and because of her peacework in the israelian and palestinian conflict.
Report
===
Spencer42
4.0 out of 5 stars Sad!Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2016
Verified Purchase
The information is very important and well researched but the writing is too academic so it's a little hard to read. Reading it all made me realize why Israelis have such a low opinion of Palestinians and are so convinced that land lived on by Palestinians for centuries actually belongs to Jews. The indoctrination starts with their schools. Sad!
14 people found this helpful
===
Anne Burns
5.0 out of 5 stars A revealing and important look at Israeli textbooksReviewed in the United States on December 7, 2013
Verified Purchase
An important book about the racism and discrimination in Israeli school texts by an Israeli expert on education and discourse analysis. The author is a member of a distinguished Israeli family, which has produced other outspoken champions of justice.
17 people found this helpful
===
Alexander
5.0 out of 5 stars good, honest writingReviewed in the United States on April 23, 2015
Verified Purchase
good, honest writing. hard to find truth like this in the Us-Israel relationship. a must-read for those who are interested in making a change for peace and justice
13 people found this helpful
===
AJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything in this book is accurateReviewed in the United States on February 24, 2025
Everything the books outlines I experienced myself growing up in that school system. They didn't even capture the worse of it, to be honest.
So if you're wondering how an entire nation can be fine with war crimes, genocide, and apartheid, this book will give you insight into how the brainwash us from an early age to hate others.
4 people found this helpful
==
Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Four StarsReviewed in the United States on February 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
An eye opener on how incitement is brought into the Israeli classrooms
8 people found this helpful
==
Addison Bross
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United States on April 7, 2015
Verified Purchase
A valuable account of one method by which the Palestinian people are controlled by a ruthless dictatorship.
14 people found this helpful
==
Top reviews from other countries
Translate all reviews to English
Angelo
4.0 out of 5 stars rivelatoreReviewed in Italy on November 15, 2014
Verified Purchase
Un libro , e soprattutto un'autrice , vigliaccamente boicottata. Questo libro racconta la verità nascosta a tutto il mondo dell'apartheid in Palestina.
Report
Translate review to English
S McArdle
5.0 out of 5 stars A shocking but essential readReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2020
Verified Purchase
I was shocked to learn what goes on in this day & age: The prejudice & racism shown towards the Palestinians (evidenced by a Jewish professor in this book) reminds me of how Germans portrayed the Jews in cartoons, books & newspapers pre-World War Two :(
==
André Gargoura
5.0 out of 5 stars Devastating study of israeli propaganda !!!Reviewed in France on May 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
Seriously-documented attack on the israeli's manipulation of historical, geographical, sociological truths and of ethics, in order to replace facts by zionist ideology, basically in education -- reduced to teaching children to hate -- but actually extended to the world at large where the same pseudo-arguments are being used...
On the wrong track of trying to justify an ethnocratic regime while refusing to even consider the only democratic two-state solution, Israel's political authorities -- with eye's wide shut as the last step of the grand plan is taking place, i.e. the annexation of zone C -- don't see that they are heading directly from an apartheid de facto towards an apartheid de jure !!!
And that's the most dramatic outcome that Nurit Peled-Elhanan shows us...
===
Richard Morris
5.0 out of 5 stars Exposes Israeli LiesReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 15, 2012
Verified Purchase
A serious academic studyy of the iniquities of Israeli education policies. The author's daughter was murdered by a suicide bomber so it is admirable and brave of her to expose Israel and to discuss the horrors they continue to perpetrate on the Palestinians and the the use of education as propaganda
===
Inger
4.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable propaganda in Israeli schoolbooksReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
To read this very wellwritten book - remembering that Israel calls itself a democratic state - is odd. Mrs Peled-Elhanan - an Israeli - having lost her own daughter - deserves deeply respect to have investigated this theme and because of her peacework in the israelian and palestinian conflict.
Report
====================
From the United States
Syndee Werner
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Insightful
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2016
Verified Purchase
As an American who grew up in the public school system, I can tell you because I remember...there are many histories manipulated in our school books that were, and suppose still are, obviously rewritten, flat out lies, exaggerated on to instill fear and hyper-sympathy or left out entire people. Thank you for this parallel....it helps connect the dots, for me anyway.
20 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
Vladek
5.0 out of 5 stars Truth Versus Propaganda
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2013
Verified Purchase
For years Israel has claimed that Palestinians teach demonization of Jews in their schools. That allegation has not been proven. This book, by a noted Israeli Jewish scholar, provides evidence that Israeli textbooks advance the Israeli propaganda story rather than a truthful accounting of history. The protrayal of Palestinians in Israeli history textbooks creates a culture of distrust and dislike of Palestinians.
35 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
Spencer42
4.0 out of 5 stars Sad!
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2016
Verified Purchase
The information is very important and well researched but the writing is too academic so it's a little hard to read. Reading it all made me realize why Israelis have such a low opinion of Palestinians and are so convinced that land lived on by Palestinians for centuries actually belongs to Jews. The indoctrination starts with their schools. Sad!
14 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
Anne Burns
5.0 out of 5 stars A revealing and important look at Israeli textbooks
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2013
Verified Purchase
An important book about the racism and discrimination in Israeli school texts by an Israeli expert on education and discourse analysis. The author is a member of a distinguished Israeli family, which has produced other outspoken champions of justice.
17 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
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