Principal at Palestinian Christian school: Teachers can ignore Israeli curriculum and teach “nationalistic message”

This principal openly reveals how Palestinian-run schools in Jerusalem can circumvent Israel's approved curriculum by having teachers replace it with their own nationalist messaging.

Principal of St. George's School Richard Zananiri: "This is part of the Israelization process of the school curricula — what is called 'the revised curriculum' or 'the revised book.' I call it 'the fake book,' because in the new books that have begun to be taught in our schools in Jerusalem, every term related to nationalism has been erased. The word 'Martyr,' the word 'Intifada,' the word 'Palestine,' the word 'Haifa,' the word 'prisoner.' They (i.e., Israel) want to remove all these terms from the mind and conscience of our students... Ultimately, the [Palestinian] teacher is the curriculum. No matter what is written in the curriculum, I can be the curriculum myself that conveys my nationalistic message."

[Official PA TV, Good morning, Jerusalem, Oct. 2, 2026]

St. George's School is a Palestinian Christian school in Jerusalem.