Cultural policies of the Israeli occupation towards Palestinians

Abstract

This paper deals with the cultural policies of Israel towards the Palestinians under their rule - namely, the Palestinian Arabs of Israel and the Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza, areas commonly called the Occupied Territories. In the broad cultural field, one of the major aims of Israeli policies seems to be centered around hindering proper education for the Palestinians, suppressing their culture and making them lose contact and pride with their own heritage. At the same time, the Israelis are providing all opportunities for education for their people and are keenly attempting to revitalize their own long-dead heritage. Another equally important aim of Israeli policies seems to be in the direction of inducing and coercing the Palestinians to accept the image of the Israelis as superior and of the Arabs as backward, dependent and passive. This aim has to 'be seen within the context of the Israelis; view of themselves and of their relations with-the Arabs; the basic objectives being the establishment of a clear identity for themselves and an Arab acceptance of their existence. But the Israelis want t• be more than just accepted by the Arabs; they want to be accepted as possessing military strength, political power, and in a very fundamental sense cultural superiority.