Voice of the Jewish News: Maths lesson... what is hate times hate?

This week's editorial reflects on books used in Palestinian classrooms filled with a litany of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hatred - and paid for by the British tax-payer.

During the dark years of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, the government rarely lost an opportunity to denounce antisemitism in the Labour Party and won admiration in many parts of the Jewish community for its firm stance against Jewish race hatred.

This makes the government’s attitude to the Palestinian textbooks issue all the more perplexing. Britain is paying money to the Palestinian Authority — albeit through a vetted process —and has repeatedly raised
the issue of the content of the textbooks used in Palestinian schools
run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
or UNRWA.

The books are filled with a litany of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hatred. Children are taught to count by the number of “martyrs” and suicide bombers and terrorism is glorified and peace is a rare commodity.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continues to insist that it is satisfied with Palestinian assurances, yet a new generation of Palestinian children is absorbing hatred of Israel with every page turned at every desk. It is time, surely, that Britain followed Norway’s example: no change of textbooks, no more money. That should concentrate minds wonderfully.

READ MORE:

JN INVESTIGATION: How Britain funds radicalisation in Palestinian schools
Steve McCabe MP: We must suspend aid that finances curriculum
Marcus Sheff MP: UK has kept doggedly to same wrong path
Stephen Crabb MP: Our approach is harmful to peace

Community showed its love for charities

To watch the pounds tick over last Sunday on the Camp Sincha online fundraiser (well, what else is one to do at the weekend these days!) was to see our community at its very best. A staggering £2million was pledged in just seven hours, and by the time the 36-hours campaign had ended, £3.2m had been secured from 21,000 donors towards the charity’s vital work for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. It must surely be one of the finest fundraising drives in Britain during this period.

The accompanying messages of love and support were testiment to
a cause that the community has taken to its very heart since its founding by Rachely and Meir Plancey a quarter of a century ago. And this week’s achievements all came without a three-course dinner, guest list and grand hall. Once again, like several other triumphant online fundraisers in the past nine months, it will provide plenty of food for thought for communal fundraisers going forward.