UNESCO. General Conference; 30th; Records ... - unesdoc - Unesco

optimism. Even if these experience ups and downs occasionally, this does not make them any less precious – or
less crucial – for Israel. And they are indeed precious agreements.
30.4 Peace is the path we are taking regarding the Palestinians, who are like Siamese twins to us, sharing the
same land. Our fates are inseparable. Our futures are interrelated. There is no other path. Peace is at hand if we
insist that there is no other choice. And I am confident that our efforts will lead to this peace we seek in the
Middle East.
30.5 I call on UNESCO, as a first step, to serve as a facilitator to enable me, as Minister of Education of the
State of Israel, to meet with the Minister of Education of Syria. UNESCO, help plant those seeds of peace
between Israel and Syria, as education is a most fertile field in which to plant. Using the good offices of
UNESCO, with its international prestige and contacts, Israel and Syria can finally meet, which is what both sides
so urgently need. Both countries, Israel and Syria, have much to give to each other, and can learn from each
other, for we are neighbours with a common destiny – a destiny of living in peace and tranquility in our part of
the world.
30.6 Ladies and gentlemen, I know that the President of Iran is here now in Paris. I hereby announce that we
extend Iran the hand of peace, if it departs from its hostile policies concerning the peace process and towards
Israel. There is no more suitable place than the UNESCO podium from which to call upon the President of Iran
to release the 13 Jews who were arrested after being accused of espionage. As an authorized representative of the
Government of Israel, I declare that these Jews have never worked for Israel and did not spy for it. The charges
against them are totally baseless.
30.7 I would like to inform this Conference of a very important change we have made in our Israeli
curriculum. We have made meaningful changes in our textbooks to eliminate any remnants of anti-Arab rhetoric,
including negative stereotypes about Palestinians and other Arabs, which have played a very negative role
throughout the decades. It is my hope that Arab ministers of education will also eradicate anti-Israel rhetoric in
their curriculum, this is a most important step. Under my administration, we have begun to address the matter of
the 1956 massacre of 47 Israeli Arabs by Israeli Border Police at Kfar Kassem. This is our obligation – to teach
in an open and truthful manner even the most painful aspects of our history.
30.8 I call upon Arab ministers, my colleagues, ministers of education, to join me in removing any
expressions of animosity and hatred of each other in our school books. This is a first step towards reconciliation
between us. My fellow Arab ministers of education – together let us embark on this road to peace. Let us work
together, you and I, to teach our children what real peace means. And this means peace between people –
between you and me – your children and mine – peace between your next generation and ours. Because we are
ministers of education, we have that great responsibility – that of touching the minds and hearts of our pupils.
This is a great challenge for us, but as ministers of education it is a challenge we can and must meet, and today
and not tomorrow.
30.9 Let us use this great tool we have – education – as a means of instilling peace in our minds and hearts.
This is our task. This is our mission. We can accomplish this mission. The time is now, my friends, and let us
bring this about through a genuine and uncompromising commitment to peace education. I live in a very special
country – Israel – and together with the Arab States, it is made up of good, decent people who deserve better.
They deserve a chance to wake up in the morning and step out into the new millennium ahead of us with a feeling
of confidence and peace. UNESCO has the resources and know-how to bridge the gaps between warring
peoples.
30.10 The time is ripe for change, my friends. Israelis and Arabs are finally realizing that each side has
something to offer each other, and neither of us are going anywhere, so we might as well live with each other.
And it is together that we shall walk the road of peace, prosperity and hope. Because that is all we can give our
children – hope. Hope for a better tomorrow – hope for a brighter future – hope for a better world.
30.11 With a UNESCO actively involved in promoting peace between Israel and Arabs, we shall make
progress and establish a true culture of peace in the Middle East. Let’s join hands and work together. Let’s use
the new-found optimism and spirit of reconciliation in the Middle East to foster a peace mentality in our schools,
in our teachers, and in our minds. By working together in good spirit and with an unbending determination, we
will succeed. Thank you very much.
31. The PRESIDENT:
Thank you, Mr Sarid. You have pronounced very important words about peace, about your commitment
and your desire for peace and I am sure everyone has now taken account in UNESCO that you are going to settle
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