The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) strongly condemns the recent “East London Educators Conference on Palestine – How to talk about Palestine in our schools,” organised by the Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Redbridge National Education Union. The event, which took place on July 11 at , showcased a deeply biased and one-sided narrative that completely ignores the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The conference presented a curriculum that whitewashes the brutal massacre of October 7th and omits any focus on Hamas, the terrorist organisation responsible for countless atrocities. The narrative begins post-October 7th, portraying Israel solely as the aggressor in a campaign of genocide, while disregarding the initial act of Palestinian terrorism.
Their teaching framework is heavily based on human rights, selectively focusing on United Nations resolutions against Israel and findings from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC). However, they glaringly overlook human rights abuses committed by both Palestinian Authority and Hamas leaders against their own people. The conflict is depicted solely as a territorial dispute, ignoring the religious and ideological dimensions, including the genocidal charters of Hamas and the PA, which explicitly call for the destruction of Israel.
The conference’s messaging includes accusations of Apartheid, Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide, and Settler Colonialism, portraying Israel as a perpetual violator of these crimes without room for analysis, context, or Israel’s perspective. This approach not only misinforms but also indoctrinates children and youth with a biased viewpoint, devoid of critical thinking.
At their most recent NEU conference in February, motions based on these beliefs were adopted by the Executive, further entrenching this biased narrative in their teachings. Their close affiliation with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) ensures that these beliefs are presented as irrefutable facts.
Managing Director Steve Winston expressed deep concern: “The NJA is appalled by the blatant bias and indoctrination presented at the East London Educators Conference. It is unacceptable that an educational forum ignores the atrocities committed by Hamas and fails to provide a balanced view of the conflict. This one-sided narrative does a disservice to students and promotes a divisive and harmful agenda.”
The NJA calls for an urgent review of the materials and narratives being propagated in educational settings, and the educators who are propagandising pro-Palestine and anti-Israel points in schools. The NJA remains committed to exposing and pushing back against such harmful ideologies. It is imperative that educators provide our children with a balanced, factual, and comprehensive understanding of complex issues, fostering an environment of critical thinking and respect.
