Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Saudi Arabia Deepens Textbook Reforms, Alters Palestine Maps
Saudi Arabia is changing some of its school textbooks.
The changes include removing content described as antisemitic.
Some maps in the books have also been updated.
Older maps reportedly called territory that matches present-day Israel “Palestine.”
In some newer maps, that label has been taken away.
However, the newer maps still do not write the name “Israel.”
This means the textbooks have changed without officially recognizing Israel.
The article does not explain when all the changes were made or why officials made them.
Saudi Arabia has removed antisemitic content from some school textbooks, according to the article title.
Some textbook maps have been modified in newer editions.
Earlier editions reportedly labeled territory corresponding to present-day Israel as “Palestine.”
That Palestine label has been removed from some newer maps.
Israel is still not explicitly identified, so the changes do not constitute formal recognition in the curriculum.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia and its education system.
- What
- Textbook reforms have removed antisemitic content and modified some maps, including removing the label “Palestine” from territory corresponding to present-day Israel.
- Where
- Saudi Arabia’s school textbooks.
- Country
- Saudi Arabia
- Material affected
- School textbooks
- Reported reform
- Removal of antisemitic content
- Map change
- The “Palestine” label was removed from some newer maps
- Israel labeling
- Israel is not explicitly identified on the maps reviewed
- Recognition
- The changes do not amount to formal recognition of Israel in the school curriculum