A recent study guide for 10th graders in New York has sparked controversy on social media due to its coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In its section under “Decolonization and Nationalism,” the guide characterizes Zionism as an “example of extreme nationalism,” suggesting it involves the notion that Jews require a homeland in Palestine. Furthermore, it lists the “settler movement by Jews taking away land from Palestinians” as an act of terrorism associated with both parties.
The Interim Superintendent of Half Hollow Hills Central School District, Brian Conboy, addressed the backlash during a Board of Education meeting, emphasizing that the guide was neither created nor sanctioned by the school district’s Social Studies Department. He pointed out that the material was developed prior to the recent escalation of violence. Conboy reassured parents that the district aims to improve the curriculum by ensuring it undergoes rigorous vetting by external experts.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) also responded to the outcry, asserting it does not produce or distribute curriculum materials while condemning any manipulation of misinformation disguised as advocacy. The controversy has garnered bipartisan criticism, with both Rep. Ritchie Torres and Rep. Elise Stefanik denouncing the study guide. Torres argued that the material unfairly tarnishes Zionism without similarly critiquing anti-Zionist ideologies that have incited violence.
Source: www.foxnews.com
