The nation’s largest teachers’ union has ignited a firestorm after reportedly sending its roughly three million members a shocking email containing a map that entirely erased Israel, labeling the Jewish state as “Palestine.” The National Education Association (NEA) circulated the email Friday, providing resources for “teaching about indigenous peoples” — including the controversial map, according to the North American Values Institute (NAVI) and reported by the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).

The email also linked to material defending Hamas’ horrific October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left 1,200 dead and 250 kidnapped, NAVI reported. The combination of the map and the supporting content has drawn widespread condemnation, raising serious questions about the union’s role in shaping educational materials and influencing young minds.

Critics Condemn NEA’s Actions

Steven Rosenberg, regional director of NAVI in Philadelphia, called the move “deeply troubling,” warning that the NEA was promoting material that trafficked in antisemitic tropes and attempted to rationalize the atrocities of Oct. 7. “At best, this reflects an organization that failed to meet its own standards of critical review and responsibility. That’s an inexcusable lapse for any institution entrusted with shaping young minds,” he told JNS.

Despite removing the material from its website, the NEA’s “Native Land Digital” map continues to label Israel as “Palestine” and describes it as indigenous to the land, keeping the controversy alive.

NEA Blames Third-Party Resource

A spokesperson for the NEA told the New York Post that the offensive content originated from a third-party source “widely used by many news outlets and organizations for many years.” The union stressed that it has always “opposed antisemitism” and said it conducted a review and removed the content once it became aware of it.

“After we became aware of content on this website — particularly related to Israel and Palestine — we conducted our own deeper review, including links to additional third-party hosted content,” the spokesperson said. “Upon review, we immediately removed it from the website. We condemn in the strongest terms the deeply offensive content linked on the website, and our team is working to identify a resource that meets our specific needs and standards.”

Advocates Demand Accountability

Rosenberg called out the NEA for quietly deleting the content instead of issuing a full explanation or apology. “Quietly removing content is not transparency or accountability,” he said, urging the union to publicly acknowledge the error and make amends.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which the NEA severed ties with earlier this year, also criticized the union. “Did the NEA forget something? The union sent its members an article featuring a world map that erased Israel,” the ADL said on X, sharing a photo of the map showing Palestine labeled over the Jewish state.

“This is not a simple oversight, but a shocking act that denies both history and present reality. Educators should be teaching facts, not rewriting them,” the ADL added, highlighting the dangers of politicizing educational materials in the classroom.

Context: A Controversy Amid a Historic Peace Deal

The union’s blunder coincided with the first phase of a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered by President Trump. The timing has intensified criticism of the NEA’s decision to circulate educational resources that distort the geography and history of Israel.

While the NEA claims to have acted responsibly once the error was discovered, critics argue that the damage — particularly among teachers and students — has already been done. By promoting materials that effectively erase Israel and implicitly defend a terrorist organization, the NEA has placed itself at the center of a national debate about education, antisemitism, and ideological bias.

The NEA’s misstep highlights the critical need for accountability and transparency in education. As Rosenberg told JNS, unions and educational organizations must uphold standards of accuracy and responsibility, particularly when addressing contentious historical and geopolitical issues. The failure to do so risks not only spreading misinformation but also normalizing harmful, antisemitic narratives in classrooms across the country.