In November, Israel's public broadcaster, Kan, faced severe backlash for a video showing Israeli children singing a song celebrating the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. While the clip was deleted, the incident sheds light on a systemic indoctrination that dehumanizes Palestinians, making such celebrations a chilling outcome.

Israeli scholar Adir Cohen's analysis of 1,700 Hebrew-language children's books from 1967 to 1985 revealed that 66% depicted Arabs as violent, 52% as evil, fostering a dehumanizing narrative. This narrative, as described by literary critic Edward Said in 1979, depicts valiant Jews defeating treacherous Arabs, reinforcing stereotypes. The Holocaust memory is weaponized to desensitize Israeli children, as historian Andrew Hurley notes in his book. It creates a narrative casting Palestinians as modern Nazis. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even claimed a Palestinian inspired the Holocaust, intensifying anti-Arab sentiments.

Israeli textbooks play a crucial role. Daniel Bar-Tal's 1998 study found societal beliefs about national security, positive Jewish self-image, and victimhood were emphasized. Negative stereotypes about Arabs were widespread, framing them as cruel and determined to annihilate Israel. While Bar-Tal's study is over two decades old, Nurit Peled-Elhanan's 2013 research on textbooks for grades 8-12 indicates that Palestinians are still portrayed as evil "Others," reinforcing the dehumanizing narrative. Israel's compulsory military service for 18-year-olds further exacerbates this indoctrination. Peled-Elhanan found textbooks labeled Palestinians as terrorists, simplifying history for Israeli benefit. The consequences of such indoctrination are stark. Shlomo Ariel, an Israeli educator, reported disturbing discussions with young conscripts, with some advocating for the physical liquidation of all Palestinians without remorse. Decades later, the celebration of Palestinian suffering and military actions, especially on social media, shows the enduring impact.

The Kan video is a symptom of a deeply ingrained problem – a consequence of years of indoctrination. The dehumanization of Palestinians perpetuates a cycle of aggression, making events like the celebration of genocide distressingly unsurprising. As the international community reacts to these revelations, it calls into question the effectiveness and morality of such ingrained indoctrination. Beyond condemning specific incidents, addressing the root cause requires challenging the systemic dehumanization perpetuated by the educational system, media, and political narratives within Israel. While the Kan video may have been a momentary embarrassment for Israel, the broader issue of indoctrination continues to shape perspectives and attitudes. The celebration of violence against Palestinians is a stark reminder of the urgency to reevaluate educational materials, media content, and political discourse that contribute to the dehumanization of an entire population.

The international community's role in addressing this issue is crucial. Condemnation of specific incidents is necessary, but efforts should extend to engaging with Israeli authorities to reform educational practices and challenge narratives that perpetuate hatred and violence.

BOB Post