HU Credits: 2

Degree/Cycle: 1st degree (Bachelor)

Responsible Department: Education

Semester: 2nd Semester

Teaching Languages: English

Campus: Mt. Scopus

Course/Module Coordinator: salim munayer

Coordinator Email: salim@musalaha.org

Coordinator Office Hours:

Teaching Staff:
Dr. Salim Munayer

Course/Module description:
The course would seek to provide students an understanding of Palestinian society and education under the Ottoman Empire and the British Mandate. Students will learn about the impact of Israel’s establishment on Palestinian society, in particular the formation of the Palestinian Israeli education system as a separate entity in Israel. Students will evaluate the educational system and historical narratives used in schools and the use of education as a means of advancement or control. Students will learn the main challenges for education and the internal dynamic among Palestinian Israelis regarding culture, religion, and language. Students will learn about the status of Palestinian Israeli teachers as an agent of change or control. Students will gain a view of women in Palestinian society and the education system. Finally, students will discuss whether or not Palestinian Israeli education in Israel addresses the multi-cultural and multi-religious challenges of the people.

Course/Module aims:

Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
The course would seek to provide students an understanding of Palestinian society and education under the Ottoman Empire and the British Mandate. Students will learn about the impact of Israel’s establishment on Palestinian society, in particular the formation of the Palestinian Israeli education system as a separate entity in Israel. Students will evaluate the educational system and historical narratives used in schools and the use of education as a means of advancement or control. Students will learn the main challenges for education and the internal dynamic among Palestinian Israelis regarding culture, religion, and language. Students will learn about the status of Palestinian Israeli teachers as an agent of change or control. Students will gain a view of women in Palestinian society and the education system. Finally, students will discuss whether or not Palestinian Israeli education in Israel addresses the multi-cultural and multi-religious challenges of the people.

Attendance requirements(%):

Teaching arrangement and method of instruction:

Course/Module Content:
Lesson 1-Introduction to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
2-Palestnian Arab education during the Ottoman Period.
3-Palestnian Arab education during the British Mandate.
Lesson 4-The Impact of the 1948 war on the Palestinian Arab population.
Lesson 5-Palestinian in the formative years of the State of Israel.
Lesson 6-Challaenges in Palestinian Arab education.
Lesson 7- Multi-Culturalism and gender in Palestinian Arab Education.
Lesson 8-The Politics of Control in Palestinian Arab Education.
Lesson 9-Palestnian schools in East Jerusalem.

Required Reading:
Lesson 1 - Introduction to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Munayer, S.J., & Loden, L. (2015). Through My Enemy’s Eyes. (pp. 1-52) Milton Keynes, UK: Paternoster.
Smooha, S. (2010). Arab-Jewish Relations in Israel Alienation and Rapprochement. Peaceworks, 1-31.
Smooha, S. (2018).Attitudes of Jewish and Arab public concerning coexistence deteriorate, but foundation of relationships is still firm.



Lesson 2 - Palestinian Arab education during the Ottoman Period
Abu-Saad, I. (2006). Introduction: A Historical Context of Palestinian Education. The American Behavioral Scientist, 49(8), 1035-1051.
Al-Haj, M. (1995). Education, Empowerment, and Control. New York: State University of New York Press.
Mar’I, S. K. (1978) Arab Education in Israel. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press.



Lesson 3 – Palestinian Arab education during the British Mandate
Al-Haj, M. (2005). National Ethos, Multicultural Education, and the New History Textbooks in Israel. Curriculum Inquiry, 35(1), 47-71.
Jabareen, A. The Palestinian Education system in Mandatory Palestine
Tibawa, A.L. (1957). Arab Education in Mandatory Palestine: A Study of Three Decades of British Administration. International Affairs, 33(4).


Lesson 4 – The Impact of the 1948 war on the Palestinian Arab population
Abu-Saad, I. (2006). Palestinian Education in Israel: The Legacy of the Military Government. Holy Land Studies, 5(1), 21-56.
Abu-Saad, I. (2004). Separate and Unequal: The Role of the State Educational System in Maintaining the Subordination of Israel’s Palestinian Arab Citizens. Social Identities, 10 (1), 101-127.
Al-Haj, M. (2005). National Ethos, Multicultural Education, and the New History Textbooks in Israel. Curriculum Inquiry, 35(1), 47-71.
Makkawi, I. (1998). Education and Identity Control Among Palestinians in Israel. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, April 13-17, 1998.
Mar’I, S. K. (1978) Arab Education in Israel. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press.
Riley, K., Abu-Saad, I., & Hermes, M. (2005). Big Change Question Should Indigenous Minorities Have the Right to Have their Own Education Systems, Without Reference to National Standards? Journal of Education Change (6), 177-190.



Lesson 5 – Palestinian Arab education in the formative years of the State of Israel
Abu-Saad, I. (2001). Education as a Tool for Control vs. Development Among Indigenous Peoples: The Case of Bedouin Arabs in Israel. International Social Science Review, 2(2), 241-259.
Abu-Saad, I. (2008). Present Absentees: The Arab School Curriculum in Israel as a Tool for De-Educating Indigenous Palestinians. Holy Land Studies, 7 (1), 17-43.
Abu-Saad, I. (2006). State educational policy and curriculum: The case of Palestinian Arabs in Israel. International Education Journal, 7 (5), 709-720.



Lesson 6 – Challenges in Palestinian Arab education
Abu-Saad, I. (2003). Israeli ‘Development’ and Education Policies and their Impact on the Negev Palestinian Bedouin: Historical Experience and Future Prospects. Holy Land Studies, 2(1), 5-32.
Agbaria, A., Mustafa, M., & Jabreen, Y. (2015). ‘In your face’ democracy: education for belonging and its challenges in Israel. British Educational Research Journal, 41(1), 143-175.
Arar, K. & Ibrahim, F. (2016). Education for national identity: Arab school principals and teacher dilemmas and coping strategies. Journal of Education Policy, 31(6), 681-693.
Cochran, J.A. (2017). Israel: Divided by Religion and Education. Digest of Middle East Studies, 26 (1), 32-55.



Lesson 7 – The Politics of Control in Palestinian Arab Education
Abu-Asbeh, K. (2009). Arab Education in Israel: Between the Discourse of Struggling Identity and Low Achievement. Adalah’s Newsletter, 63, 1-3.
Abu-Saad, I. (2004). Separate and Unequal: The Role of the State Educational System in Maintaining the Subordination of Israel’s Palestinian Arab Citizens. Social Identities, 10 (1), 101-127.



Lesson 8 – Multi-culturalism and Gender in Palestinian Arab Education
Abu-Saad, I. (2004). Epilogue: Reflections on Race and Racism in Contemporary Israeli Society: ‘Wishing the Barbarian Away.’ Social Identities 10 (2), 293-299.
Agbaria, A., Mustafa, M., & Jabreen, Y. (2015). ‘In your face’ democracy: education for belonging and its challenges in Israel. British Educational Research Journal, 41(1), 143-175.
Alayan, S. (2016). Education and Learning in a Multicultural Society: The Case of Israel and the Reflection of the School Books. International Academic Conference, February 6, 2016.
Amara, M., & Schnell, I. (2004). Identity Repertoires Among Arabs in Israel. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 30(1), 175-193.
Khoury, L., Da’Na, S., & Abu-Saad, I. (2013) The dynamics of negation: identity formation among Palestinian Arab college students inside the green line. Social Identities, 19(1), 32-50.
Riley, K., Abu-Saad, I., & Hermes, M. (2005). Big Change Question Should Indigenous Minorities Have the Right to Have their Own Education Systems, Without Reference to National Standards? Journal of Education Change (6), 177-190.
Suwaed, M. (2014). Encouraging Socio-Ethnic Pluralism in Arab High Schools in Israel: Perspective of the Headmistress and Educational Staff. International Education Studies, 7 (4), 86-97.



Lesson 9 – Specific Challenges for Palestinian Christian schools in Israel
Abu-Asbeh, K. (2009). Arab Education in Israel: Between the Discourse of Struggling Identity and Low Achievement. Adalah’s Newsletter, 63, 1-3.
Abu-Saad, I. (2016). Access to Higher Education and its socio-economic impact among Bedouin Arabs in Southern Israel. International Journal of Educational Research 76, 96-103.
Abu-Saad, I. (2003). Israeli ‘Development’ and Education Policies and their Impact on the Negev Palestinian Bedouin: Historical Experience and Future Prospects. Holy Land Studies, 2(1), 5-32.
Al-Haj, M. (2005). National Ethos, Multicultural Education, and the New History Textbooks in Israel. Curriculum Inquiry, 35(1), 47-71.
Arar, K. & Ibrahim, F. (2016). Education for national identity: Arab school principals and teacher dilemmas and coping strategies. Journal of Education Policy, 31(6), 681-693.
Khoury, L., Da’Na, S., & Abu-Saad, I. (2013) The dynamics of negation: identity formation among Palestinian Arab college students inside the green line. Social Identities, 19(1), 32-50.
Makkawi, I. (2002). Role Conflict and the Dilemma of Palestinian Teachers in Israel. Comparative Education, 38 (1), 39-52.
Suwaed, M. (2014). Encouraging Socio-Ethnic Pluralism in Arab High Schools in Israel: Perspective of the Headmistress and Educational Staff. International Education Studies, 7 (4), 86-97.

Additional Reading Material:

Grading Scheme :
Essay / Project / Final Assignment / Home Exam / Referat 60 %
Submission assignments during the semester: Exercises / Essays / Audits / Reports / Forum / Simulation / others 30 %
Attendance / Participation in Field Excursion 10 %

Additional information: