[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21627]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    GAZA STUDENTS AND THE HOLOCAUST

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, in Gaza and the West Bank, the U.N. Relief 
Works Agency operates hundreds of schools, many of them controlled by 
Hamas-approved teachers' unions. When the U.N. considered adding the 
Holocaust to the history curriculum, Hamas wrote a vicious letter, 
denying the events and refusing to let their children hear about one of 
the most well-documented, horrific events of the 20th century.
  Sadly, in typical fashion, U.N. officials have backed off their 
pledge, effectively ceding control of curriculum to Hamas.
  It is hard to imagine that there can be a lasting peace agreement in 
the Middle East when the party that controls the Gaza Strip steadfastly 
denies even well-known facts. Hamas teaches the children of Gaza 
outrageous lies about Israel; and, unfortunately, the U.N. does little 
to combat this disinformation and hate speech.
  It is far past time for the U.N. to take a stand against the hatred 
of Hamas extremists by ensuring that history is no longer distorted. 
Peace will only come when the children of Gaza are no longer taught 
that Israel has no right to exist.

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