DID Press: A new study by Israeli research institute Impact-se says Saudi Arabia has removed some negative references to Jews from school textbooks published between 2024 and 2026, while critical portrayals of Israel and Zionism remain in parts of the curriculum and educational maps continue not to identify Israel.
The study examined changes in Saudi textbooks by comparing newer and older editions, focusing on references to Jews, Israel, Zionism, religious teachings, tolerance and coexistence.
According to the report, several negative references to Jews have been removed. These include descriptions portraying Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians as inherently defective, as well as a religious narration stating that Jews who die without repentance would be condemned to hell. References to alleged “Jewish conspiracies” and broader claims about Jewish hostility toward Muslims were also removed.
Changes concerning Israel and Zionism, however, were more limited. In some textbooks, the term “Zionist enemy” was replaced with “Israeli occupation,” while passages describing Zionism as a “European racist movement” or blaming Zionists for the 1969 arson attack at Al-Aqsa Mosque were removed.
Nevertheless, the study says Israel remains absent from educational maps in many cases, with the disputed territory often labeled simply as “Palestine.”
The report also found that some textbooks continue to describe Israel as an “occupying state,” with the characterization in certain material extending to the period before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. One social studies textbook reportedly describes Zionists using terms such as “cunning” and “devious.”
At the same time, Saudi textbooks have added examples of peaceful relations between the Prophet Muhammad and Jewish communities, while removing some generalized religiously negative references to Jews.
Overall, Impact-se concludes that Saudi Arabia has made changes aimed at reducing anti-Jewish content, but that substantial criticism of Israel and Zionism, as well as the absence of Israel from educational maps, remains.
The study reflects the Israeli organization’s own assessment criteria and advocacy for further changes to Saudi educational content.