The 'Zionist enemy' is out: the change taking place in Saudi textbooks

A new report by IMPACT-se reveals further softening toward Israel in Saudi textbooks: a sentence about Jerusalem was removed, the label 'Palestine' was removed from maps, and the content emphasizes coexistence. However, Israel is still presented as an occupying power in some content.

A new report by IMPACT-se, an organization that monitors educational content, indicates a continued softening of attitudes toward Israel in Saudi textbooks. One of the most notable changes is in an Arabic textbook for the 11th grade: the sentence 'Muslims will never give up Jerusalem,' which appeared in the 2023–2024 editions, was completely removed from editions starting in the 2024–2025 school year. According to IMPACT-se, the sentence presented Muslim control of Jerusalem as under threat, and its removal eliminates a politically and religiously charged reference. Additionally, in several textbooks, the label 'Palestine' was removed from areas within Israel's borders, and in some maps the area remains unnamed. The changes are part of a trend that has continued for years, emphasizing coexistence, tolerance, and dialogue, while removing antisemitic content. However, the report stresses that there is still content that presents Israel as an occupying state and expresses the Palestinian narrative.