"Some 200,000 children will go into our classrooms on 1 September, and won't have the books they need," John Ging, the Gaza director of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, told IRIN.
The shortage has emanated from Israel's refusal, so far, to allow five trucks of paper into the impoverished territory, needed to print the textbooks. Since the Hamas takeover of Gaza in June, Israel has clamped down on the borders, bringing imports and exports almost to a halt with the exception of basic humanitarian goods. The latest development serves as an indicator of the difference of opinion between many aid organisations and Israel on what is considered "humanitarian aid". Indeed, food and medicine continue to make it into the Gaza Strip and even fuel. However, many goods are locked out. "We are trying to get raw materials into Gaza," but without success, said Sebastien Kuster of CARE France, adding that the materials, including pipes, asphalt and cement for water and sanitation projects were humanitarian goods. "These are needed to complete work to guarantee continuous access to water for the people in Gaza."
Even if the paper arrived immediately, the school year would still begin without the textbooks. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, to print the over 350,000 books needed by UNRWA, factories would require between 20 and 25 days, "assuming the electricity is functioning normally".
Officials in Israel, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the state is concerned the paper might be used to print books with Hamas ideology imbedded within them, or for other propagandist endeavours.
However, Gershon Baskin, the Israeli director of the Israel-Palestine Centre for Research and Information, who is campaigning to get the paper in, said so far there is no indication Hamas will change the curriculum.
"It remains a concern," he admitted. "But by not allowing them to print books, will the thoughts and ideas go away? If they want to teach [radicalism], someone can teach without a book," said Baskin.
Not letting in the paper is "denying children their right to education", he concluded.
The shortage has emanated from Israel's refusal, so far, to allow five trucks of paper into the impoverished territory, needed to print the textbooks. Since the Hamas takeover of Gaza in June, Israel has clamped down on the borders, bringing imports and exports almost to a halt with the exception of basic humanitarian goods. The latest development serves as an indicator of the difference of opinion between many aid organisations and Israel on what is considered "humanitarian aid". Indeed, food and medicine continue to make it into the Gaza Strip and even fuel. However, many goods are locked out. "We are trying to get raw materials into Gaza," but without success, said Sebastien Kuster of CARE France, adding that the materials, including pipes, asphalt and cement for water and sanitation projects were humanitarian goods. "These are needed to complete work to guarantee continuous access to water for the people in Gaza."
Even if the paper arrived immediately, the school year would still begin without the textbooks. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, to print the over 350,000 books needed by UNRWA, factories would require between 20 and 25 days, "assuming the electricity is functioning normally".
Officials in Israel, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the state is concerned the paper might be used to print books with Hamas ideology imbedded within them, or for other propagandist endeavours.
However, Gershon Baskin, the Israeli director of the Israel-Palestine Centre for Research and Information, who is campaigning to get the paper in, said so far there is no indication Hamas will change the curriculum.
"It remains a concern," he admitted. "But by not allowing them to print books, will the thoughts and ideas go away? If they want to teach [radicalism], someone can teach without a book," said Baskin.
Not letting in the paper is "denying children their right to education", he concluded.
1 comment:
Very simple: The Paleos are actively trying to murder Israeli schoolchildren. If they want their own situation to improve, then they'll stop.
And if they continue trying to murder, then the following will get FAR worse:
One Third Of Arab Youth From Yesha Want To Leave
Figures released by the PA’s Central Bureau of Statistics reveal that over one third of Arab youth living in Judea, Samaria and Gaza would leave the Land of Israel if they had the means. Inter-Arab violence, unemployment and poverty are some of the main reasons for the exodus. In the last year alone it is estimated that tens of thousands of Arabs living in Judea, Samaria and Gaza have left Israel to begin new lives abroad.
Peace for peace. War for war. But know that if you keep choosing the latter, th price you pay will FAR exceed any damage you do.
Your choice. We'll still be here either way.
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