The Arab-Israeli Conflict in Israeli History Textbooks, 1948-2000

(Hardback)

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Description

Israeli history textbooks in the past contained many biases, distortions, and omissions concerning the depiction of Arabs and the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Today these misrepresentations are gradually being corrected. This study encourages the depiction of a balanced portrait in all textbooks. By reviewing curricula and textbooks used in the Israeli educational system since the establishment of Israel, the author assesses the impact of Zionist historiography and the Zeitgeist on the portrayal of Arabs in textbooks. The study unravels the biases, distortions, omissions, and stereotypes through the analysis of several major historical events such as the 1948 war, the refugee question, the 1967 war, and the peace process.

Reviews

.,."this book is written in an interesting fashion with a great attention to research. One wonders what the effect of recent events will be on future Israeli--and Palestinian--textbooks."-Choice
...this book is written in an interesting fashion with a great attention to research. One wonders what the effect of recent events will be on future Israeli--and Palestinian--textbooks.-Choice
This is an important book. It is not merely a description of these textbooks, but also an explanation of the catalyst of the conflict...This book comes at the right time...Elie Podeh's study provides an oppurtunity to take a comprehensive look at the contents of history and civics books that have been used to educate Israeli elementary and secondary school students from 1948 until 2000.-Middle East Journal
..."this book is written in an interesting fashion with a great attention to research. One wonders what the effect of recent events will be on future Israeli--and Palestinian--textbooks."-Choice
"This is an important book. It is not merely a description of these textbooks, but also an explanation of the catalyst of the conflict...This book comes at the right time...Elie Podeh's study provides an oppurtunity to take a comprehensive look at the contents of history and civics books that have been used to educate Israeli elementary and secondary school students from 1948 until 2000."-Middle East Journal

Author Bio

ELIE PODEH is Senior Lecturer, Department of Islam and Middle Eastern Studies, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.