Civics book refers to seculars as ‘anti-religious’ and ‘non anti-religious’
'Describing seculars as anti-religious people depicts them as intolerant instigators,' claim its detractors, who view the book in its entirety as promoting a uniformly Zionistic perspective.
Another text included in the public school system's Civics textbook is causing a stir among young adults. The book, titled “Being Citizens in Israel,” was now found to categorize secular Jews into either “anti-religious” and “non anti-religious” people, without any neutral option.
The use of this division was criticized by young supporters of the left-wing party Meretz.
“The book doesn’t have a category for ‘regular’ seculars,” they stated. “Nor is there a similar distinction made for religious ‘anti-seculars.’”
Those opposing the textbook claim that it set out to praise Zionism while disparaging other groups.
“This is a dangerous book that wishes to incite (its readers) and whose end goal is far from education and civics,” said Meretz Youth Chairpersons Elad Wolf and Bar Gissin, adding that “Describing seculars as anti-religious people depicts them as intolerant instigators.”
The ministry of Education has yet to respond to these claims.
