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Written question asked by Neil Coyle (Labour) on Friday, 16 February 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 February 2024 (named day). It was answered by Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) on Wednesday, 21 February 2024 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

UNRWA: Textbooks

Question

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the findings of the report published by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education entitled UNRWA Education: Textbooks and Terror, published in November 2023.

Answer

We are aware of the findings of this report. We take any allegation of the promotion of racism and discrimination extremely seriously and have been clear that incitement to hatred or violence is unacceptable and should have no place in education. Any allegations of breaches of UN staff regulations and rules, including neutrality breaches, are reported to FCDO and investigated. We continue to urge all parties to condemn incitement wherever and whenever it occurs.

The UK-supported 2021 review of the Palestinian Authority (PA) curriculum found improvements in content, with previously flagged materials removed. What we really need to see is further curriculum reform from the PA and we continue to raise this with them regularly.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
14089
Session
2023-24
Subjects
Terrorism Palestine UNRWA Textbooks
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk