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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Gambhir flies back home for "personal emergency", to rejoin in Adelaide
Perth (PTI): India head coach Gautam Gambhir has flown back to India with his family due to "personal emergency" and is unlikely to be present during the the two-day pink ball warm-up game in Canberra starting November 30.
Gambhir, however, is slated to directly link up with the squad in Adelaide before the 'Pink Ball Test' starting December 6.
It is understood that Gambhir has sought permission from BCCI brass with regards to his return.
"He left with his family on early Tuesday morning for India. It is an unavoidable personal emergency. He will be back in Adelaide before the start of the second Test match," a BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
The Indian team will leave for Canberra on Wednesday, November 27 where the entire team is expected to attend an official reception thrown in their honour by the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The two-day Pink ball match will give the Indian team a chance to get some game time under its belt.
PMXI is a squad full of youngsters but India will get some good match practice with pacer Scott Boland expected to play the game.
The rules of the game will be decided by the two teams and it is expected that everyone will bat and ball as it won't have an official status.
