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- Country of residence: Palestine
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Know your enemy. Part of the answer may lie in this phrase, in response to the question: Why do the youth of Gaza accept to learn the Hebrew language?
However, the answer is much more comprehensive than that. Young people in Gaza have become increasingly interested in learning the Hebrew language for several reasons that are not limited to translating transactions, following the news, or getting a better job.
Aside from the fact that residents of the West Bank and Jerusalem are forced to master Hebrew for their direct and daily dealings with Israelis, Gazans of both genders and different age groups accept learning and mastering Hebrew for “valid” reasons, most notably understanding Israeli laws, obtaining better job opportunities, and even optimal dealings with their national cause.
There is a great demand for Hebrew learning centers
Hebrew is not primarily supported in Palestinian schools, but it is taught as an optional language in some Palestinian secondary schools and universities. In the educational curriculum in Gaza, the student learns the basics of the Hebrew language in a very simplified manner, which his students cannot later adopt for conversation or work. This is what prompts many to enroll in special courses to understand and master the language.
In 2012, the Hamas government adopted the teaching of Hebrew as an optional subject at the secondary level in schools in the Gaza Strip and Ramallah. However, Ramallah rejected the decision, and the supporters of the move considered that it comes from the example of “whoever knows the language of a people who is safe from their deception.”
Then, centers specializing in teaching the Hebrew language spread in the Gaza Strip at prices not exceeding $150, granting their learners a certificate of Hebrew proficiency after passing 6 levels within a period not exceeding 6 months.
These centers are usually run by liberated prisoners who have mastered Hebrew in Israeli prisons. The Nafha Center for Prisoner Studies is the first center opened in Gaza to learn Hebrew. It attracts approximately 20 male and female students from various categories every month, and is run by Ahmed Al-Falit, who was released in 2011 after being detained for 20 years. In occupation prisons.
Personal and national motives
In a report by German radio Deutsche Welle, Ahmed Al-Falite explains that “the group that deals most with the Israeli side are the merchants, but they are the least willing to learn the Hebrew language, and all commercial transactions, medical transfers, and crossings require familiarity with the Hebrew language.”
He added: "What happens on a daily basis regarding the Palestinian issue requires full knowledge of this language as well," adding, "Therefore, the lack of contact with the Israeli side in Gaza does not diminish the importance of learning Hebrew in any way compared to the people of the West Bank and Jerusalem."
As for web designer Mahmoud Al-Helou, who learned the basics of Hebrew ten years ago, when he worked as an accountant and had to deal with invoices in Hebrew, he decided to master it for another goal: “To have broader job opportunities through translation or working with entities in my field who speak this language, to As well as acquiring additional culture.
He added: "Hebrew is an easy language and very similar to Arabic in many of its words, but what is difficult is mastering it in a way that enables it to be practiced and spoken in Gaza," noting that "he went to forums and groups on social media sites to ask questions in Hebrew to receive answers and discuss them in Hebrew."
For her part, Kawthar Sadr, a lawyer and university lecturer, believes that learning the Hebrew language is essential, saying: “We (as lawyers) should know different cultures, and I tend to learn Hebrew to understand the culture and way of thinking of the Israeli people,” considering that “learning Hebrew through educational courses is better than translating texts.” Legal information on the Internet because most of it is not sound or accurate, which means that it is not possible to rely on it in whole or in part.
At the same time, she points out that “Israel issues laws on a daily basis or at frequent intervals that apply to Palestinians living in Israel (Arabs 48), and this is reason enough for me to learn Hebrew and become personally and continuously informed of Israeli laws.”
Palestinian journalist Najla Najm was also forced to learn Hebrew in order to accurately translate Israeli news in order to understand the Israeli plan to manage the conflict on the various political, military and economic levels.
She considers that: “Learning Hebrew increases the awareness of the Palestinian people about what is happening in Israel. Many of the Israeli media’s materials are translated, and learning Hebrew contributes to understanding what the Israeli media covers, away from reading translated texts that are often subject to the emotions and whims of those who control them.” You translate.”
Hebrew is compulsory
Najm believes that the Gazans "delayed a long time before reaching the level of awareness of the necessity of learning the Hebrew language. They should have realized the importance of learning it a long time ago."
Al-Falite agrees with her opinion and points out severe neglect in learning the Hebrew language in Palestine, while the Palestinian Ministry of Education had to adopt it as a basic subject for all school students.
Al-Falit returns to the main issue: the Palestinian issue, speaking about the opportunities to serve this cause by mastering Hebrew, saying: “We must admit that we have neglected learning Hebrew, which is part of our national cause. In Israel, Arabic education begins at the primary level and they are fluent in speaking it more than the Palestinians themselves.”
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