Gaza children to learn ‘occupiers’ language

DHAKA: The Hamas government in Gaza will reinstate Hebrew lessons in high schools next academic year, an education ministry official for the Palestinian Islamist regime said.

‘The occupiers speak Hebrew…so the knowledge of the language is useful’, said Ziad Thabet, deputy education minister.

‘The education ministry decided to offer Hebrew classes at the start of the next academic year, 2012-2013’, Thabet told Agence France-Presse, adding that the selective course would be offered in two classes.

‘We will have a trial run in two schools, one for boys and one for girls, in each of the seven education sectors of the Gaza Strip, so we’ll have 14 schools teaching Hebrew next year’, he said.

‘We are still under occupation and the occupiers speaks Hebrew, most goods available are marked in Hebrew, so the knowledge of the language is useful’, added Thabet.

The Hamas government refuses to recognise Israel or negotiate with it.

Hebrew has not been taught in public Palestinian schools in Gaza and the West Bank since the creation of the Palestinian Authority in 1994.

Israel first imposed a blockade on Gaza in June 2006 after militants there snatched one of its soldiers.

It was tightened a year later after the Islamist Hamas movement seized power, ousting forces loyal to Western-backed president Mahmud Abbas.

The blockade has been eased somewhat but still remains in place, despite the release of the captive soldier in October last year.

BDST: 1349 HRS, MAY 26, 2012

Edited by Robab Rosan, Cultural Affairs Editor