Studies have shown that human rights education (HRE) can help promote democracy
and social progress by empowering individuals and groups and pushing governments to
fulfill their obligations towards residents. Assuming that such assessments are accurate,
I argue that the successful application of human rights education requires much more
than what is generally discussed in the scholarly literature: adjustments to curriculum,
additional resources, and adequate teacher training programs. Using Israel as a case

In the Israeli media, the message conveyed to Hebrew-speaking audiences has been that the uprisings in the Arab world are clashes between ethnic, religious or tribal groups. This depiction fits well within the representational framework of Israel as an island of civilization surrounded by savages. Th is conceptual framework serves to determine Israel’s regional policies, both with many of its neighboring countries and with the Palestinians.

“No other advanced technology country has such a large proportion of citizens with real time experience in the army, security and police forces,” reads a glossy government brochure entitled Israel Homeland Security: Opportunities for Industrial Cooperation.

Much has changed during Israel’s 40 years of occupation of Palestinian territory. Within the past six years Israel has, on average, killed more Palestinians per year than it killed during the first 20 years of occupation. Those who help manufacture public opinion within Israel claim that the dramatic increase in Palestinian deaths results from the fact that the Palestinians have changed the methods of violence they employ against Israel, and that Israel, in turn, has also begun using more violent means.