UK Recognition of Palestinian State May "Lay Groundwork for Next Oct 7" Warn Israeli Experts

The potential recognition of a Palestinian state by the UK government has raised concerns among Israeli experts, who warn that it would embolden indoctrination and potentially lead to further violence. An Israeli-founded non-profit organisation, Impact-se, has released a report highlighting the Palestinian Authority's (PA) use of school textbooks that glorify terrorism and promote anti-Semitism. The report suggests that 316 convicted terrorists have become "millionaires" under the PA's so-called "pay-for-slay" scheme, which rewards terrorists based on the severity of their prison sentences.

Key Takeaways:

• The PA's school textbooks contain passages that describe terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians as "heroism" and Maths exercises that ask children to count the number of "martyrs" who died in the First Intifada.
• The PA's "pay-for-slay" scheme rewards convicted terrorists with financial rewards in proportion to the severity of their prison sentences, making 316 terrorists millionaires.
• Marcus Sheff, the chief executive of Impact-se, warns that British recognition of a Palestinian state would "lay the groundwork for the next Oct 7" and embolden indoctrination.
• Lord Walney, Sir Keir's former independent adviser on political violence and disruption, highlights the existence of a "vein of extremism" running through the PA, embedding intolerance through education textbooks.
• Figures in Sir Keir's own party, including Michael Rubin, director of Labour Friends of Israel (LFI), have joined calls for him to rethink recognition of a Palestinian state, citing the need for the PA to undergo "serious, meaningful and substantive reform".

Statistics:

• 316 convicted terrorists have become "millionaires" under the PA's "pay-for-slay" scheme (Impact-se Report).
• The UK has signed off over £100m in taxpayer funds for the PA under a new agreement that has removed previous clauses on removing incitement to violence and hate from the curriculum.
• The PA planned to abolish the "pay-for-slay" scheme in February, but little progress has been reported since (The Telegraph).

Sources:

• Impact-se Report: "British Recognition of a Palestinian State: What You Need to Know"
• The Telegraph: "UK recognition of Palestinian state would 'embolden indoctrination', warn Israeli experts" by James Rothwell
• The Independent: "Labour Friends of Israel: We welcome Corbyn's decision to accept the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism" by Michael Rubin