A poster in an art class at a Brooklyn public elementary school showing a map of the "Arab world" is causing an uproar as it omitted Israel for "Palestine," according to the New York Post.
The poster, which has now been removed following a Free Press story published Thursday, was manufactured by Arab education company Ruman. It features Islamic landmarks in each of the countries in northern Africa and the Middle East and was posted in a classroom where Rita Lahoud, an educator at the school, was teaching Arab Culture Arts to pre-K and elementary students.
The program is funded by Qatar Foundation International, the American wing of the Qatar Foundation, a nonprofit owned by the ruling family of the wealthy Arab state, according to The Free Press.
"I am deeply concerned about this issue and we are working to determine why this map is on display, if the map was approved by the [Department of Education], and whether the exclusion of Israel is a part of the class' curriculum," Rep. Dan Goldman, whose district includes the school, told the Post.
"With the shocking rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in the city and around the country, it is imperative that our public schools accurately and fully teach our students about the history and origins of the state of Israel," the Democratic congressman added.
Lahoud did not respond to questions about the map and the principal of the school deferred to the New York City Department of Education, which initially rebuffed concerns about it, telling the Free Press: "Why would it not be?"
"This is a map of countries that speak Arabic," added Nathaniel Styer, the DOE spokesperson.
But after the Free Press published its story, the DOE said the map had been taken down.
"As soon as we were made aware of concerns regarding the map it was removed. We are committed to fostering a welcoming environment here at NYCPS that supports all cultures and communities," Styer said.
City Councilman Eric Dinowitz, who chairs the Jewish Caucus of the City Council, called the map "awful."
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Republican who represents heavily Jewish southern Brooklyn, said educators should "tell kids the truth."
"They're not supposed to be inserting politics into the school system," Vernikov said. "Tell kids the truth. There's a state of Israel on the map."
Tova Plaut, a New York City public school instructional coordinator for pre-K through fifth grade classrooms, told the Free Press she found the map "concerning."
"It was a perfect example of Jewish erasure in New York City Public Schools," she said.
"There is a country there called Israel. We don't have maps that still say USSR in classrooms."
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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