Across the United States, many states require instruction on genocide, with the expectation that these lessons present accurate, balanced, and objective analysis. In practice, however, particularly since the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks, some instructional materials have introduced highly contested claims, including allegations that Israel is committing genocide.
For example, one high school-level lesson reviewed by CAMERA includes an activity titled, “Is Israel Guilty of Genocide Against the Palestinians?” Students are asked to analyze the Israel–Hamas war and write an essay arguing whether it constitutes genocide. The activity provides three sources: one from the Israeli Foreign Ministry defending against the charge, one from the Council on Foreign Relations offering a general overview, and a third, a “fact sheet” from the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU), that supports the accusation. IMEU is an advocacy organization that promotes Palestinian perspectives in American public discourse.
