Saudi texbooks revise maps, language regarding Palestine: Israeli study
An Israeli think-tank study reported significant changes in Saudi school textbooks, notably the removal of references to "Palestine" from most maps and a shift in language concerning Israel. The study, conducted by NGO Impact-se, analyzed textbooks from 2019 to 2024, revealing alterations, removals, and unchanged content.
Among the findings, a social studies textbook for grade 12 no longer taught Zionism as a racist movement since 2023. Additionally, another textbook eliminated the chapter addressing the Palestinian cause. Notably, maps in social studies textbooks for grades five and nine consistently omitted Palestine and Israel, a departure from previous versions.
According to the report, most maps excluded all countries not bordering Saudi Arabia, including Palestine. Moreover, two maps in a geography textbook for grades 10-12 no longer featured any country names bordering Saudi Arabia. Islamic studies and geography textbooks for grades 10-12 also replaced maps showing historic Palestine with Israel.
Further adjustments included the removal of references to Israel as "the Zionist entity" in a 2022 social studies textbook. Additionally, a textbook discussing Arab and Saudi support for the Palestinian cause was discontinued in 2023.
The study also noted a shift in tone regarding Israel. For instance, a high school social studies textbook revised references to Israel as "the Zionist enemy" to "the Israeli occupation army" in its 2022 edition.
Saudi Arabia, which had not formally recognized Israel since its establishment in 1948, faced speculation about potential normalization of relations, akin to Bahrain and the UAE. However, recent events, such as the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October and subsequent conflict resulting in Palestinian casualties, deterred such efforts.
The Saudi foreign ministry affirmed that no normalization would occur without progress toward Palestinian statehood and a ceasefire.
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Elephant attacks man riding his children to school in Belthangady
Belthangady: In a shocking incident, a wild elephant attacked a man and his two children while they were on their way to school on a bike in Shishila village on Wednesday morning. The attack left the trio injured and their bike completely destroyed.
The victim, Vasantha Gowda, a resident of Kallaje in Shishila, was riding his bike to drop his children, Lavya and Advith, at Perla School in Shibaje village. The incident occurred around 8:30 AM when a lone elephant suddenly emerged on a curve in the road.
Startled by the sudden appearance of the animal, Vasantha Gowda braked abruptly, causing the bike to topple. All three fell to the ground, sustaining injuries to their arms and legs. As the elephant advanced, they managed to escape the scene, leaving their bike behind.
The elephant then approached the fallen bike, smashed it with its trunk, and completely crushed it underfoot.
The attack has heightened concerns among residents of Belthangady taluk, where incidents of human-elephant conflict have been rising. Locals have called on the Forest Department to take measures to prevent such encounters and ensure the safety of residents.
