In the wake of the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) have encouraged schools statewide to use additional lessons and resources to foster awareness and understanding of the conflict and its root causes.
Abbott, a Republican, expressed his support for Israel and the Jewish community in a press release issued by the Office of the Texas Governor on Oct. 20. He stated, “The State of Texas stands strong with Israel and our Jewish neighbors during the heinous acts of war committed by the terrorist group Hamas, and we will not allow misinformation and prejudice to undermine the support the Jewish community needs during this time of conflict.”
The governor emphasized the importance of providing students with an elevated understanding of the current conflict in Israel. He thanked the TEA and the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission for their efforts in shielding students from false information and historical misrepresentations that cultivate hatred and violence against innocent communities.
“These additional resources will supplement the current comprehensive approach to teaching world studies in Texas by providing our students an elevated understanding of the current conflict in Israel through informed classroom discussions, multimedia resources, and in-depth learning experiences,” Abbott said.
Abbott also highlighted the role of education in eliminating ignorance and promoting knowledge and truth. He stated, “The future of Texas depends on the thorough education and guidance of our bright students. Working together, we can eliminate the ignorance that spurs antisemitism and bigotry through knowledge and truth.”
Since the start of the war on Oct. 7, Abbott has expressed support for Israel. The Texas governor has shown solidarity with the West Asian nation of nearly 9 million people after it experienced a sneak attack by Hamas militants. This prompted Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, to issue a declaration of war.
Hamas' initial assault claimed at least 1,000 lives, including dozens of Americans. In response, Israel has launched rockets into the Gaza Strip in an effort to decimate the group, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S, Israel, the European Union (EU), and others. CNBC reported that Israel intends to step up its bombardment of Gaza, with a major ground offensive slated to take place any day now.