Chamber and committees

Alison Phillips submission of 26 September 2021

PE1879/G: Provide an accessible and professionally developed learning and teaching resource on Israel and Palestine

My MSP John Swinney, who was responsible for Education, allowed himself, I believe, to be influenced by the demands of the pro-Israeli Lobby and remove a resource from the obvious go-to website of Education Scotland for teachers seeking to find the narrative of both Palestinians and Israelis. I had hoped to meet with him personally but my own failing health and then the Pandemic prevented that.

Though it is possible to find the resource on the website of EIS, it is unlikely that this would be expected by the majority of teachers. I believe that unless they are clearly informed the resource exists and where it is to be found, they will be unaware of a resource that provides a narrative of both Palestinians and Israelis.

Unless the committee takes steps to re-instate this resource, and prevent lobby groups from modifying teaching material, it is highly likely that powerful and well-funded groups will object to any future attempt to represent the other side of the story.

Surely children deserve to consider the consequences of denial of both peoples' narratives.