Textbook Changes Remove Palestine Labels From Several Classroom Maps
Saudi Arabia has removed the word “Palestine” from several school textbook maps and deleted or revised a number of references related to Palestine, Jerusalem and Israel.
The changes were identified in the Review of Saudi Textbooks 2024–2026, which examined 136 textbooks used during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years.
According to the review, several Social Studies textbooks previously showed internationally recognised Israeli territory under the label “Palestine.”
Newer editions have removed that label.
However, the affected territory has not been renamed Israel.
Instead, the area has been left unidentified on several revised maps.
The changes mark a noticeable shift in how the Palestine-Israel issue is presented to Saudi students.
Importantly, the findings do not indicate that every reference to Palestine has been removed from the entire Saudi curriculum. References supporting the Palestinian cause remain in some textbooks.
However, the removal of Palestine from multiple maps and the deletion of prominent political references represent significant curriculum changes.
Jerusalem Statement Removed as Language on Israel Is Softened
The review also identified changes involving Jerusalem.
A Grade 11 Arabic Language textbook previously included the statement: “The Muslims will never give up Jerusalem.”
That sentence has now been removed.
Another major revision was found in a Grade 11 History textbook.
The phrase “the Zionist enemy” was replaced with “the Israeli occupation.”
The report said such changes reflect a wider effort to reduce strongly confrontational political language in Saudi textbooks.
Other references describing Israel as an occupying state have also reportedly been revised or removed in some sections.
Despite these changes, Israel is still not formally identified on many Saudi classroom maps.
This means the curriculum changes stop short of officially recognising Israel.
Some textbooks also continue to contain material supporting the Palestinian cause.
The latest revisions therefore show a shift in terminology and presentation rather than the complete disappearance of Palestine-related material from Saudi education.
Curriculum Overhaul Continues Under Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia has carried out extensive textbook reforms since 2020 as part of a wider transformation of its education system.
The changes have affected religious, political, social and historical content.
The kingdom has revised material covering extremism, relations with other religions, gender roles, regional politics and international affairs.
The latest Palestine-related revisions have attracted particular attention because of Saudi Arabia’s influential position in the Arab and Muslim world.
Removing the Palestine label from maps is likely to generate debate over how future generations of Saudi students are taught about the Palestinian issue.
At the same time, the continued absence of Israel from many maps shows that Riyadh has not moved to formally recognise Israel through its school curriculum.
The textbook review presents the changes as part of a gradual moderation in political language.
However, the removal of the word “Palestine” from several maps, alongside the deletion of the Jerusalem statement and revision of terminology concerning Israel, represents a significant change in Saudi educational material.
The developments come as Saudi Arabia continues a broad social and economic transformation under Vision 2030.
