Watan- In a move that underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing proximity to Israel, the Kingdom, back in 2021, announced a massive overhaul of its educational curriculum. Hamd Al Al-Sheikh, the then Minister of Education, unveiled nearly 120,000 modifications to the school textbooks.
These changes weren’t minor tweaks. They encompassed revisions to 89 existing educational books and the introduction of 34 new ones. Opposition activists, who meticulously analyzed the changes, found a significant portion dedicated to removing lessons that portrayed Jews in a negative light. This included altering prophetic sayings about them, misrepresenting the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ campaigns against Jews, and even omitting lessons on the revered Al-Aqsa Mosque.
For instance, a history textbook for first-grade middle school students previously mentioned the reason for a particular campaign was due to the Jews’ plots against Muslims. This has now been changed to suggest it was due to the movement of the Quraish tribe and other tribes against Muslims.
In the same book, earlier content suggested that Jews in Medina posed a threat to Islam. This has been replaced with a narrative that emphasizes the Prophet’s efforts to establish peaceful relations with the Jews for stability and coexistence.
Furthermore, the curriculum for high school students has seen the removal of any mention of Israel’s occupation of Palestine and their efforts to Judaize the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Underlying Message
The extensive curriculum changes, especially those related to Jews and Israel, are not merely academic. They reflect a broader geopolitical shift in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia potentially moving closer to formalizing ties with Israel. As the Kingdom reshapes its educational narrative, the world watches closely, deciphering the implications of these changes on future generations and the region’s ever-evolving dynamics.