Educators Worry Palestine Censorship Could Reshape Public Education Entirely

"A wave of bills introduced this year in state legislatures across the country sought to censor Palestine-related education in public schools. Several passed with the support of pro-Israel Democratic lawmakers, a trend that educators and First Amendment advocates told Truthout reflects the alignment of pro-Israel groups with MAGA forces. As these efforts continue, many said they fear public education could be reshaped far beyond social studies classrooms and the topics of Israel and Palestine."

"The censorship of Palestinians is the same as the 'Don't Say Gay,' and the anti-critical race theory attacks on Black history," Nora Lester-Murad, an organizer with the #DropTheADLfromSchools effort, told Truthout. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is one of a number of pro-Israel groups supporting regressive public education legislation across the country. "Yes, it's Zionist, and yes, it's promoting Israel, but it's also part of this right-wing effort to take public education in a direction that's away from critical thinking and that's anti-liberatory."

"This year, legislators in at least eight states - including Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Tennessee - introduced bills that would directly adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in public schools. That definition equates criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Dozens of civil society and rights groups, as well as unions of educators, have warned against its adoption because of its power to chill or suppress speech critical of Israel or Zionism."

A wave of state bills sought to censor Palestine-related education in public schools, with several passing and gaining support from pro-Israel Democratic lawmakers. Legislators in at least eight states introduced measures to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which equates criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Civil society organizations and educators warn that adoption could chill speech critical of Israel or Zionism. The Anti-Defamation League and other pro-Israel groups are supporting regressive education legislation. Critics compare censorship of Palestinian topics to 'Don't Say Gay' and anti-CRT attacks, arguing it promotes a right-wing, anti-critical-thinking agenda that could reshape public education.

Read at Truthout