Palestinian song broadcast repeatedly presents Israeli cities as Palestinian
presents Israeli cities as Palestinian
Jaffa, Tiberias, Acre, Haifa, Beit Shean,
Safed, Ramle, the Galilee, the Negev, Nazareth,
5 different versions of song broadcast repeatedly on PA TV in 2013
Misrepresenting numerous Israeli cities as places in "Palestine", a song named Oh Flying Bird has become a veritable hit in the PA. Currently, five different versions are being broadcast by PA TV. "My beautiful country Palestine" is the repeating refrain
of the song, in which a bird is told to deliver greetings to different places in "Palestine."
The Israeli cities and regions said to be part of "My beautiful country Palestine" in the five different versions are: Jaffa, Tiberias, Acre, Haifa, Beit Shean, Safed, Ramle, the Galilee, the Negev. The song also mentions the Israeli Arab towns of Nazareth, Deir Al-Assad, Kfar Kana, Rummaneh, and Umm Al-Fahm as part of "Palestine."
Click to view a compilation of excerpts of the five versions
The bird is encouraged to "turn to Safed, and then to Tiberias," "send regards to the sea of Acre and Haifa," "drink the water of Jaffa's port, [not to] forget Ramle," and to "tell Beit Shean about its people's return."
Recently, a young Palestinian contestant sang Oh Flying Bird in the singing contest Arab Idol. His performance has been broadcast numerous times during April and May this year. (See the other four versions of Oh Flying Bird below.)
Click to view
Earlier this year, Oh Flying Bird was performed at an event celebrating Fatah's anniversary. It has since been rebroadcast on PA TV.
Click to view
"In the music lesson, the teacher sang this song. I looked for it on YouTube and saw the lyrics."
Earlier this month, PA TV also rebroadcast a live performance of Oh Flying Bird, which was originally performed at a festival under the auspices of former PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Click to view
The song also exists as a duet and a regular music video, both with footage of places in Israel and the PA that are mentioned in the song.
Click to see more PMW documentation of denial of Israel's right to exist Click to see more PMW documentation of replacement of Israel with "Palestine."
The following are the lyrics of Oh Flying Bird, broadcast repeatedly in five different versions on PA TV:
"Oh flying bird, circling around,
by Allah, oh traveling [bird], I burn with envy.
My country Palestine is beautiful.
Turn to Safed, and then to Tiberias,
and send regards to the sea of Acre and Haifa.
Don't forget Nazareth - the Arab fortress,
and tell Beit Shean about its people's return.
Oh flying bird, circling around...
by Allah, oh traveling [brid], I burn with envy.
My country Palestine is beautiful...
Go to Jenin and bring me from its valley
greeting to Nablus, Tulkarem and their soil.
Drink the water of Jaffa's port,
don't forget Ramle and Ramallah.
Oh flying bird, circling around...
by Allah, oh traveling [bird], I burn with envy.
My country Palestine is beautiful."
[Arab Idol version - Broadcast numerous times, April-May, 2013
Fatah's anniversary version - Broadcast numerous times, Jan.-May, 2013
Young boy sings Oh Flying Bird- PA TV, Jan. 26, 2013
Performance at festival under auspices of PA PM Fayyad - aired originally on
Oct. 24, 2012, rebroadcast on Oct. 29, 2012 and May 16, 2013
Duet version - Broadcast numerous times, June 2012-Feb. 2013
Music video - Broadcast numerous times, 2011-2013,
most recently on PA TV live, May 26, 2013]