Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Palestinian Authority’s School Curriculum

Tuesday 3 March 2026 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK will conduct an external assessment of the Palestinian Authority's compliance with the UK-Palestinian memorandum of understanding.
  • The European Union is leading the process of grade-by-grade education reform in Palestine, with notable progress on grade 12.
  • Concerns are raised about the viability of a Palestinian state due to ongoing violent settlement expansion, which is not reflective of most Israelis' will.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jack Rankin Con Windsor
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Palestinian Authority has given assurances about reforming textbooks, but a specific textbook in use on the West Bank contains inflammatory content aimed at 14-year-olds.

Question

What assessment has been made of the adequacy of the compliance of the Palestinian Authority's school curriculum with the UK-Palestinian memorandum of understanding, given that a textbook in use on the West Bank describes Arab fighters using explosive belts and includes an image of a gunman shooting Jews riding a tank, aimed at 14-year-olds?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

There will be an external assessment of the Palestinian Authority's compliance with the UK-Palestinian memorandum of understanding. The process of education reform is being led by the European Union, and considerable progress has been made on grade 12. The Minister is aware of the grade-related progress and welcomes the submission of the problematic textbook.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific faith in the Palestinian Authority's ability to change their ways was not addressed

How: External Assessment, Progress On Grade 12

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Q2 Jack Rankin Con Windsor
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Palestinian Authority has given assurances about reforming textbooks, but a specific textbook in use on the West Bank contains inflammatory content aimed at 14-year-olds.

Question

The Palestinian Authority have given the British Government repeated assurances that textbooks are being reformed, which one would have thought would be a minimum requirement for the recognition of a Palestinian state. However, in my office, I have an Arabic-language textbook, currently in use on the west bank, that describes Arab fighters using “explosive belts” to turn their bodies into fire burning the Zionist tank, and it is aimed at 14-year-olds. Is the Minister aware that this is going on, and does he have any faith that the Palestinian Authority can change their ways?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

The external assessment will verify the implementation of reform commitments. The process of grade-by-grade reform is ongoing and led by the European Union, with considerable progress on grade 12. The Minister welcomes the submission of the problematic textbook to confirm its grade.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific faith in the Palestinian Authority's ability to change their ways was not addressed

How: External Assessment, Progress On Grade 12

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Q3 Peter Prinsley Lab Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP is concerned about the continuation of settlement expansion in Palestine, which could jeopardize the viability of a future Palestinian state.

Question

I am concerned that when the dust settles and the rubble is cleared, the viability of the Palestinian state will be significantly jeopardised. Does the Minister share my firm belief that what is going on does not really represent the will of the Israeli people?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

I am sure that the whole House will recognise the authority with which my hon Friend speaks. He is right that violent settlement expansion is not the will of most Israelis; polling reflects that time and again. As the Israeli public approach Israeli elections, I hope that there will be a discussion in Israel about the appalling nature of this violence and this expansion.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address the question about the viability of the Palestinian state or provide specific commitments.

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Q4 Wendy Morton Con Aldridge-Brownhills
Asylum & Refugees Community Security Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the Palestinian Authority's disregard for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the promotion of antisemitic content in Palestinian schools.

Question

The Palestinian Authority continue to show an absolute disregard for the MOU, with deeply disturbing and antisemitic content still being promoted in Palestinian schools. How are the UK Government monitoring this, and ensuring that no UK taxpayer money is being used to fund that? With “pay for slay” continuing, will the Minister tell the House if he raised these concerns with the Palestinian Authority when he met their ambassador last week? What is his assessment of the payments being made? What direct action is he taking to stop “pay for slay”, such as withholding payments until this vile practice ceases?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

I have tried to answer as precisely as possible on all the sections of the MOU. If the right hon Lady has a particular area that she would like to raise, I am happy to address it, as I did the point raised by the hon Member for Windsor (Jack Rankin). I can confirm that I raised these questions in my most recent interaction with the Palestinian ambassador. She refers to what is sometimes described in public as “pay to slay”—the Tamkeen system. That is being externally audited by a United States auditor. Once we have that audit, we will be in a position to provide a further update to the House.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific commitments on how UK taxpayer money is monitored or direct actions taken to stop 'pay for slay'.

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