Jordanian textbooks used for the 2025-2026 school year contain antisemitic and anti-Israel themes, according to a report released on Tuesday by international research and policy institute IMPACT-se.
The institute found that the textbook contains “persistent intolerance and hostility towards specific groups,” despite containing additional messaging on peace and tolerance.
IMPACT-se found that tolerance toward Christians was promoted, while Jews were portrayed as “treacherous” with an “evil” influence on the world.
As an example, a Jordanian history textbook claimed that Jews attempted to destroy Germany’s economy during World War I and that Western support for the Balfour Declaration stemmed from “Jewish financial and political influence over the British Treasury and the US government.”
A textbook for 9th-grade students described “treachery and violation of agreements” as natural Jewish traits, asking students to ponder why Jews wish to “annihilate” Muslims.
Regarding Israel, the textbooks reference the peace treaty between the two countries as a “reluctant” effort to stop “Israeli expansionist ambitions and recover stolen land,” with maps frequently labeling Israel as “Palestine.”
Several textbooks reference the 1969 al-Aqsa Mosque arson attack as perpetrated by Israel, when the actual perpetrator was an Australian Christian.
Textbooks justify Hamas’s October 7 terror attacks
Furthermore, the textbooks continue to justify Hamas’s October 7 massacre as justifiable, though overall content on the subject is lower than in previous years.
The attack is referred to as a response to “Israeli aggression,” labeling the southern Israeli town attacked in the massacre as “settlements.”
IMPACT-se CEO Marcus Sheff described the findings as “concerning,” particularly due to Jordan’s status as a “key Western ally and one of Israel’s longest-standing peace partners.”
“While the curriculum includes examples promoting peace and tolerance, those themes are not applied consistently, particularly in relation to Jews,” said Sheff. “Despite the publication of new material for the current school year, far too many of the same problematic themes remain unchanged, standing in direct contradiction to the moderation and coexistence Jordan promotes to the world.”
The findings follow previous reports by IMPACT-se on Palestinian Authority and Iranian textbooks, both of which were found to glorify martyrdom. According to the report, the PA textbooks additionally contained antisemitism.
Goldie Katz, Miriam Sela-Eitam, and Mathilda Heller contributed to this report.
