Connect with us

RSS

Palestinian Authority Indoctrinates Children: Israel Shouldn’t Exist, Balfour Declaration Was ‘Satan’s Promise’

The opening of a hall that the Palestinian Authority named for a terrorist who killed 125 people. Photo: Palestinian Media Watch.

Marking the anniversary of the 1917 Balfour Declaration — which declared that the British government “views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people” — the Palestinian Authority (PA) stressed its belief that Israel has no right to exist in any borders.

The PA presents the establishment of Israel as “theft” and the Balfour Declaration, the letter from British Foreign Secretary Balfour to Baron Rothschild, as “the ominous promise,” through which “one who has no ownership” — i.e., Britain — “gave a promise to one who has no right” — i.e., the Jews.

This message is taught to Palestinian schoolchildren throughout the year, and the PA Ministry of Education makes sure to particularly emphasize it on the November 2 anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.

During a school event commemorating “the ominous promise,” young school children held signs and Palestinian flags. One sign read “Satan’s promise”:

Text on yellow sign: “Satan’s Promise
Nov. 2, 1917”
Text on pink sign: “Lod [i.e., an Israeli city]”

[PA Ministry of Education, Facebook page, Nov. 3, 2024]

The anniversary of the Balfour Declaration also serves as the perfect opportunity to emphasize the PA’s antisemitic ideology.

The Palestinian antisemitic explanation for the Balfour’s Declaration is that Britain led the initiative to create a state for the Jews so they could “get rid of them,” because the Jews “tried to take control of the economy … in most of the European states”:

Click to play

Palestinian Writers’ Union General Secretariat member Talal Abu Afifa: “These Jews, ever since they arrived in Britain in the 18th century… at the start of the 20th century, they began to constitute a problem for Britain. Especially because the Jews, wherever they settle, they try to take control of the country’s economy and wealth. When the Zionists in Britain began to do this, bitterness and complaints began from the civilians, economists, and statesmen, that the Jews are attempting to take control of Britain. They did this not just in Britain, but in most of the European states…”

Official PA TV host: “Indeed, wherever they arrived destruction followed.”

Talal Abu Afifa:: Therefore, Britain thought about how it would get rid of the Jews [and issued the Balfour Declaration].” [emphasis added]

[Official PA TV, In Memory, Nov. 2, 2024]

A retired PA Security Forces Maj. Gen. repeated another part of the PA’s narrative regarding the establishment of Israel in general: That it was, and still is, part of a “colonialist project”:

Click to play

PA Security Forces Maj. Gen. (ret.) and national security expert Ahmed Issa: “Israel is the only state that was not established by its people on its land. It was established through theft, and it is a product of a large colonialist project led by the colonialist states under the leadership of Britain.” [emphasis added]

[Official PA TV, Israel in the News, Oct. 28, 2024]

Along with the colonialist conspiracy theory, the PA sees the Balfour Declaration as marking the West’s submission to “the desires of global Zionism”:

The Balfour Declaration’ was tantamount to the West’s first step on the path to establishing an entity for the Jews on the land of Palestine, while acceding to the desires of global Zionism at the expense of a people that has been planted in this land for thousands of years … The Jews succeeded in exploiting this piece of paper of [then British Foreign Secretary] Arthur Balfour … to realize their dream, and on May 15, 1948, Israel was established. [emphasis added]

[WAFA, official PA news agency, Nov. 2, 2024]

As mentioned above, the PA actively reinforces the message to children in PA schools — that Israel has no right to exist in any borders — and uses the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration to reinforce it.

The PA Ministry of Education posted additional photos from school events, “rejecting and condemning the ominous promise”:

Posted text: “The adults will die and the young will not forget.

As a sign of rejecting the ominous Balfour Promise and an expression of the importance of preserving the national memory and affiliation among our students, activities were held condemning this ominous promise on the radio this morning [Nov. 3, 2024].

#The_Balfour_Promise”

Children kneel to form the PA map of “Palestine” that presents all of Israel together with the PA areas as “Palestine” with their bodies.

They are wearing red, black, white, and green shirts and form the Palestinian flag, indicating Palestinian sovereignty over the entire Israel, thereby presenting a world without  Israel.

Text on sign: “The Balfour Promise was given by one with no ownership to one with no right”

Text on sign in center: “The Balfour Promise is null and will be nullified”

Text on paper: “The ominous Balfour Promise”

[PA Ministry of Education, Facebook page, Nov. 3, 2024]

In a video posted by the South Hebron Directorate of Education — a branch of the PA Ministry of Education — a schoolgirl appears with the PA map of “Palestine” that includes all of Israel in the colors of the Palestinian flag painted on her face.

The text posted by the Directorate of Education stresses that the activity was connected to “the ominous Balfour Promise”:

Posted text: “The participation of female student Sham Lafi Al-Haroub from the Beit Shean Elementary School for Girls in the South Hebron Directorate of Education (i.e., branch of the PA Ministry of Education) in commemorating the anniversary of the ominous Balfour Promise”

[South Hebron Directorate of Education, Facebook page, Nov. 3, 2024]

School events marking the anniversary of “the ominous Balfour Promise” were held in PA schools:

Posted text: “Pictures from the schools of the South Hebron Directorate of Education during school radio activities, which were dedicated today, Sunday, [Nov. 3, 2024,] to talking about the anniversary of the ominous Balfour Declaration (see note below -Ed.).
#The_Balfour_Promise (i.e., Declaration)”

Text on girl’s sign: “We will not forget the ominous promise
The Balfour Promise
Which was given by one who has no ownership to one who has no right
Nov. 2, 1917”

[South Hebron Directorate of Education, Facebook page, Nov. 3, 2024]

Text on sign: “The [Balfour] Promise is null and the [Palestinian refugees’] right of return is what is legal”

Text on sign: “The Balfour Promise to steal a homeland”

Text on sweatshirt: “All of Palestine is my homeland
(The following is in English -Ed.) Free Palestine”

[South Hebron Directorate of Education, Facebook page, Nov. 3, 2024]

Fatah’s magazine for children, Waed, stated in their November 2024 issue that the Palestinians issued their declaration of independence in 1988 in Algeria as a response to the Balfour Declaration to “nullify everything that resulted from the Balfour Declaration.” In other words, elimination of Israel:

“The PLO — the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people — declared the establishment of the State of Palestine on Nov. 15, 1986 (sic., 1988) in Algeria. This declaration came 70 (sic., 71) years after the Balfour Declaration to emphasize the Palestinian people’s determination to liberate Palestine and nullify all that has happened as a result of the Balfour Declaration.” [emphasis added]

[Waed Magazine, Issue 45, November 2024]

Palestinian Media Watch has exposed many other problematic and dangerous messages taught to children by Fatah through its youth magazine Waed in the report Teaching Terror to Tots, and documented decades of PA’s rejection of Israel’s right to exist, which peaks on the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration.

The author is a senior analyst at Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article was originally published.

The post Palestinian Authority Indoctrinates Children: Israel Shouldn’t Exist, Balfour Declaration Was ‘Satan’s Promise’ first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

Post Views: 394
Related Topics:
Continue Reading

RSS

French Foreign Minister Says Recognizing Palestinian State Defies Hamas, Despite Terror Group’s Praise

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot speaks to the media on the day he attends the European Union Foreign Ministers council in Brussels, Belgium, July 15, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot insisted on Friday that President Emmanuel Macron’s push to recognize a Palestinian state defies Hamas’s interests — even as the terrorist group welcomed the decision.

“Hamas has consistently rejected the two-state solution. By recognizing Palestine, France is rejecting the stance of this terrorist organization and affirming its support for peace over war,” the top French diplomat said in a post on X.

However, Hamas praised France’s latest announcement, calling it “a positive step in the right direction.”

France’s initiative is part of “a political development that reflects growing international conviction in the justice of the Palestinian cause and the failure of the Israeli occupation to distort facts or suppress the will of free nations,” said the Palestinian terrorist group, which has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades.

Hamas also said that such international steps “represent political and moral pressure” on Israel.

On Thursday, Macron announced that France will recognize a Palestinian state and issue a formal statement at the United Nations General Assembly in September as part of its “commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”

“The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and to bring relief to the civilian population,” the French leader said in a post on X.

Macron called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages still held by Hamas, and increased humanitarian aid for Gaza.

He also stressed the need to demilitarize the Iran-backed terrorist group, rebuild the war-torn enclave, and create a Palestinian state that recognizes Israel and ensures regional security.

“The French people want peace in the Middle East. It is our responsibility — as French citizens, alongside Israelis, Palestinians, and our European and international partners — to prove that peace is possible,” the French leader wrote.

However, despite Macron’s continued efforts, his controversial diplomatic initiative to recognize a Palestinian state faces widespread public opposition, with nearly 80 percent of French citizens rejecting the move.

A recent survey conducted by the French Institute of Public Opinion (IFOP) on behalf of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF) — the main representative body of French Jews — found that 78 percent of respondents opposed a “hasty, immediate, and unconditional recognition of a Palestinian state.”

According to IFOP’s survey, nearly half of French people (47 percent) believe that recognition of a Palestinian state should only be considered after the release of the remaining hostages captured by Hamas during the group’s invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The survey also revealed deep concerns about the consequences of such a premature recognition, with 51 percent of respondents fearing a resurgence of antisemitism in France and 50 percent believing it could strengthen Hamas’s position in the Middle East.

France’s policy move comes after Spain, Norway, Ireland, and Slovenia officially recognized a Palestinian state last year, claiming that such a move would contribute to fostering a two-state solution and promote lasting peace in the region.

On Friday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas praised France’s decision, calling it a “victory for the Palestinian cause.”

“This reflects France’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights to their land and their homeland,” Abbas said.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned France’s announcement, describing it as a “reward for terrorism.”

“Such a move … risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became,” the Israeli leader said in a post on X.

“A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel. They seek a state instead of Israel,” he continued.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also denounced the move, calling it “reckless” and saying it “only serves Hamas propaganda.”

The post French Foreign Minister Says Recognizing Palestinian State Defies Hamas, Despite Terror Group’s Praise first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

Post Views: 30
Continue Reading

RSS

Costa Rica Adopts IHRA Definition of Antisemitism, Joining Latin America’s Fight Against Rising Jew-Hatred

Part of an exhibit on the Holocaust supported by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Photo: courtesy of IHRA.

Costa Rica has formally adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, becoming the sixth country in Latin America to do so as antisemitic rhetoric and anti-Jewish hatred continue to rise across the region.

Local authorities announced the decision following meetings with a delegation from the American Jewish Committee’s (AJC) Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs.

Among the Latin American countries that have already endorsed the IHRA definition are Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, and Uruguay.

An intergovernmental organization comprising dozens of countries, including the United States and Israel, IHRA adopted the “working definition” of antisemitism in 2016.

Since its adoption, the definition has gained widespread support from Jewish organizations and lawmakers around the world, and is now used by hundreds of governmental bodies, including the European Union and the United Nations.

According to the definition, antisemitism “is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

Beyond traditional antisemitic acts associated with the medieval period and Nazi Germany, the definition provides contemporary examples of antisemitism found in public life, media, education, workplaces, and religious settings — including Holocaust denial and modern forms targeting Israel, such as demonizing the Jewish state and denying its right to exist.

Jewish organizations hailed Costa Rica’s recent decision as a significant milestone in the global fight against Jew-hatred, amid a worldwide surge in antisemitism following the Hamas-led invasion of and massacre across southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

“We are grateful that Costa Rica has joined the growing number of nations that view the IHRA definition as an essential guidepost to recognize antisemitism in its various forms so it can be properly addressed,” Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJC’s Institute for Latin American Affairs, said in a statement.

“We urge all nations to take this important step to protect their Jewish communities and uphold their Democratic values,” she continued.

Gilbert Meltzer, president of Costa Rica’s Jewish Community, commended the government’s decision to “support morality and combat discrimination.”

“The increase of hate speech and attacks on Jews all over the world, especially after Oct. 7, demands ethical decisions and firm actions as this one,” Meltzer said in a statement.

The European Jewish Congress also praised Costa Rica’s latest move, describing it as “a timely and courageous step” amid a rising climate of hostility against Jews.

“Defining hate is the first step to combating it. A principled move that must inspire others,” the statement read.

The post Costa Rica Adopts IHRA Definition of Antisemitism, Joining Latin America’s Fight Against Rising Jew-Hatred first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

Post Views: 30
Continue Reading

RSS

‘Reckless Decision’: US Officials Blast France for Recognizing Palestinian State

US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron react on the day of a press conference, at the White House in Washington, DC, US, Feb. 24, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

US officials were quick to castigate France for its intention to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly, describing the policy as “reckless” and a move that undermines efforts to end the ongoing war in Gaza.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who announced the decision on X, published a letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirming France’s intention to press ahead with Palestinian recognition.

“True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,” Macron said. “I will make this solemn announcement at the United Nations General Assembly next September.”

France, home to the third largest Jewish community in the world, will become the first major Western country to recognize a Palestinian state, after smaller nations more generally more critical of Israel did so last year.

Washington lambasted France’s announcement.

“The United States strongly rejects Emmanuel Macron’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on the X social media platform. “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.”

Likewise, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee slammed France for moving to recognize a Palestinian state.

“How clever! If Macron can just ‘declare’ the existence of a state perhaps the UK can ‘declare’ France a British colony!” he said on X. “Macron’s unilateral ‘declaration’ of a ‘Palestinian’ state didn’t say WHERE it would be. I can now exclusively disclose that France will offer the French Riviera & the new nation will be called ‘Franc-en-Stine.’”

Huckabee has long opposed the recognition of a Palestinian state. In June, the ambassador said that he did not think that an independent Palestinian state remains a goal of US foreign policy.

US President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed Macron’s plan, saying it won’t make a difference.

“What he says doesn’t matter,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “He’s a very good guy. I like him, but that statement doesn’t carry weight.”

Trump added, “”Look, he’s a different kind of a guy. He’s okay. He’s a team player, pretty much. But here’s the good news: What he says doesn’t matter. It’s not going to change anything.”

Israeli officials lambasted France’s plan as a “reward for terrorism,” arguing a Palestinian state at this time would become a hub for terrorism and likely a proxy of Iran, which has long backed the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Gaza.

“A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let’s be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a post on X.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned Macron’s “absurd and unserious” decision that Paris will formally recognize a Palestinian state.

“A Palestinian state would be a Hamas state — just as the [Israeli] withdrawal from the Gaza Strip 20 years ago led to Hamas’s takeover there,” he said in a statement posted on X.

“Israel’s attempt to base its security on Palestinian promises to fight terror failed entirely in the Oslo process,” he continued, referring to the 1990s peace initiative between Israel and the Palestinians that sought a two-state solution. “Israel will no longer gamble with its security and its future.”

Israel maintains that Palestinian statehood should only come as the result of a negotiated peace agreement that ensures Israel’s security and recognition as a Jewish state.

The French announcement comes amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza, where Israeli military operations continue following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of and massacre across southern Israel.

Macron defended the decision to recognize a Palestinian state in a statement, saying that the proclamation underscores that France is “true to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”

“We must finally build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and enable it, by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East,” he added.

The post ‘Reckless Decision’: US Officials Blast France for Recognizing Palestinian State first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

Post Views: 31
Continue Reading

Copyright © 2017 - 2023 Jewish Post & News