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| Violence and terror |
After demonizing Jews and Israelis, including citing Islamic sources that depict Jews negatively, and culminating with ongoing lies and libels that portray Jews as an immediate threat to Palestinian life and existence, the Palestinian Authority foment violence against Jews and Israelis, presenting it as legitimate and even heroic self-defense.
PA terror promotion takes many forms. Nationalistically, the PA actively elevates violence as a valid and heroic means to achieve political goals, while religiously, fighting and killing Jews has been presented repeatedly by PA religious and academic leaders as Allah’s will. On the social level, Palestinian leaders and society honor even the most loathsome of murderers portraying them as heroes and role models: Dalal Mughrabi, who led a bus hijacking in which 37 were killed, has schools, summer camps, and many other events and places baring her name to immortalize and glorify her and her terror attack.
Click to view PMW special report: “From Terrorists to Role Models”
 The success of the PA’s promotion of violence is readily evident: A majority of Palestinians support killing and suicide terror against civilian Jews and Israelis. A poll conducted after the murder of eight teenagers who were studying in a Jerusalem high school in 2008, found that 84% of Palestinians supported the murder [NY Times, March 19, 2008, citing the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research].
This violent image of a dagger being thrust into the Star of David has appeared hundreds of times in a video clip for children on PA TV, from 2001 – 2008.
Click to view video |
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| PA veneration of the rifle |
| One expression of Palestinian Authority support for violence is veneration of the rifle. Both in visual and verbal expression, the PA reveres the rifle as a Palestinian symbol as it vows to continue the “armed struggle” against Israel until achieving all its goals. Numerous music videos broadcast on PA TV revolve around the theme of the rifle. In this video, the rifle is presented as “a brother” that will never be “thrown down”:
[PA TV (Fatah), Jan. 4, 2012]
Music videos broadcast on PA TV not only glorify the rifle through song lyrics, but also through dance. This music video, broadcast at a PLO cultural festival, features dancers carrying rifles who sing: “There is no force in the world that can remove the weapon from my hand... He who offers his blood doesn’t care if his blood flows upon the ground... My weapon has emerged.”
[PA TV (Fatah), Oct. 7, 2011]
This section documents that “the rifle” and glorifying violence is central to PA discourse. Songs at Palestinian cultural events and broadcast on PA TV call for the “liberation of Palestine” and destruction of Israel through violence. The PA’s assurances expressed in international forums that it has abandoned violence and does not seek Israel’s destruction do not correspond to the messages expressed internally. To the world, the PA leaders say they have given up violence and terror. Among Palestinians, violence, symbolized by “the rifle,” continues to be embraced as a Palestinian ideal.
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PA TV song: Marry me off to girl who will raise my children on carrying the rifle
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Mar. 30, 2013
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"My country is Arab, filled with freedom,
Oh mother, marry me off to a Palestinian girl.
Mother, a daughter of the land, with a happy nature,
who will raise my children on carrying the rifle."
Click to view video
Note: This song and dance originally aired on Aug. 15, 2011 and was rebroadcast Aug. 21, 2011. It aired 8 times in 2012, 6 times in January 2013, and most recently on March 29 and 30, 2013. |
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PA TV music video: "We treat the rifle as a brother"
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Jan. 4, 2013
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PA TV music video:
"Yasser Arafat, rest in peace, rest in peace,
while we continue the struggle, the struggle.
By Allah, we won't throw down our weapons.
We treat the rifle as a brother.
We treat the rifle as a brother."
Click to view video
Click to view bulletin
Note: This clip originally aired on Dec. 30, 2011 and was rebroadcast Jan. 4, 2012, Jan. 1, 2, and 4, 2013. |
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PA TV song honoring Arafat glorifies violence and venerates rifle
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Dec. 31, 2012
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"Engrave on the rifle butt the symbol of Fatah's Al-Asifa [unit]
He [Arafat] taught the whole world how to revolt. Yasser - symbol of freedom
Oh Elder, I swear by [your] uniform and your keffiya
Mahmoud Abbas is on the same path when it comes to [our] state and identity
We fired the rifle, we faced the storm
We responded to the cannon with a pistol
Using stones, we ignited a revolution and wrote [history], oh Fatah men
On the rifle butt, we have engraved [Fatah's] symbol
On the grip, we have engraved "Arafat"
On the top cover we have inscribed the history of the free
On the barrel -- the name of the homeland
The flash-suppressor ignited and burst
Here it is, oh rifle sight
The state is only a few meters away
Oh action-spring, receive and shoot [bullets] continuously
Change the magazine -- there are hundreds [of them]
Load it into the chamber
Oh AK-47, make sounds of joy and salute the Elder (Arafat)"
Click to view video
Click to view bulletin
Note: This video aired 7 times in one week, four times on Nov. 11, twice on Nov. 13 and again on Nov. 16, 2011. It was broadcast most recently on Dec. 29 and 31, 2012. |
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Picture on Fatah's Facebook page glorifies violence and the rifle
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Source:
Fatah's Facebook page, Dec. 21, 2012
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| [https://www.facebook.com/fatehal3sfh] |
On January 1, 2013, Fatah celebrated “Launch Day,” commemorating the 48th anniversary of Fatah's first terror attack. This picture was one of many posted on Fatah's official Facebook page to commemorate Fatah’s anniversary.
The adjacent picture glorifies the rifle and violence: “48th anniversary of the Launch of the Fatah rebel.”
Click to view bulletin |
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Fatah official glorifies violence: "The rifle dare not fall"
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), May 7, 2012
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PA TV shows Abbas Zaki, Fatah Central Committee Member, speaking at rally in solidarity with prisoners in Hebron:
Zaki: "The world did not recognize us… until Arafat got up at the UN and said, 'I am holding an olive branch in one hand, and a rifle in the other – do not cause the green branch to fall from my hand.' He did not say, 'Do not cause the rifle to fall', because the rifle dare not fall so long as there is occupation of our Palestinian land." |
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Egyptian song on PA TV calls to attack Israel "with the rifle"
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), May 3, 2012
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"Oh Palestinians, [the Israeli] with the rifle shot you,
the Zionists are killing your doves in your sacred area.
Oh Palestinians, I want to go and be with you.
Fire is in my hands, and with you, attack the snake's head (Israel).
Oh Palestinians, the revolution is certain,
with the rifle we will impose our new life.
Oh Palestinians, the revolution is certain
with the rifle we will impose our new life."
Click to view video
Note: This song originally aired on Aug. 14, 2011 and was rebroadcast on Jan. 20, March 26, 27, and May 3, 2012. |
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Song at Fatah event: Palestinians are the "rifle" protecting the home from the "wolf" (i.e., Israel)
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Mar. 22, 2012
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Song by Lebanese songwriter Wadi' Al-Safi, sung by Palestinian singer Mondher Al-Ra'i at a performance marking the 46th anniversary of Fatah.
Excerpt from the song:
"We will never leave you, our home,
I will not agree to leave my home
My home – I am its rifle
I will not leave it to the wolf;
I will not lend out its key."
In the audience: President Mahmoud Abbas, Secretary of the PLO Executive Council Yasser Abd Rabbo, Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki, PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi, President's office Sec. Gen. Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim, Ramallah and El-Bireh district governor Laila Ghannam, Arab member of Israeli Parliament Ahmad Tibi, Minister of Fence and Settlement Affairs Maher Ghneim, Fatah spokesman Ahmad Asaf.
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Alternate between "the stone, the rifle, and free speech," says Fatah official at media convention
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Mar. 9, 2012
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PA TV live broadcast from Ramallah: 2012 General Convention of the Palestinian Journalists' Association.
Mahmoud Ismail, member of the PLO Executive Committee:
"I hope that this election assembly of media people will inaugurate a wise Palestinian media enterprise, and our legacy will remain the stone, the rifle, and free speech; we will make alternating use of these, whenever and however we wish."
Click to view video |
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Fatah member in Abbas’ name: “All rifles… must be aimed at the occupation [Israel]”
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Feb. 25, 2012
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Mahmoud Al-Aloul, member of the Fatah Central Committee, delivers a speech on behalf of Chairman Abbas at a ceremony in Ramallah, marking the 43rd anniversary of the DFLP.
Ceremony host: "And now for the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State (Arabic: dawla) of Palestine, President of the PLO Executive Council, President of the Palestinian Authority, to be delivered on his behalf by fighter comrade Mahmoud Al-Aloul, Abu Jihad, member of the Fatah Central Committee – if you please."
Al-Aloul: "I greet you all, and I am honored, on behalf of President Abbas, to be participating with you in this ceremony marking the anniversary of the establishment of the DFLP [Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine]… The DFLP has also always contributed to this organization [the PLO] in clarifying contradictory theories and anchoring [the idea] that every marginal conflict, or difference of opinion, of ideology, of position, is a secondary conflict which can be solved through communication and dialogue. The fundamental conflict is always with the occupation, and all rifles and all efforts must be aimed towards the occupation."
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Former head of Arafat’s office: Fatah slogan was and still is "All rifles towards the enemy"
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Nov. 12, 2011
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PA TV program Topic of the Day. Topic: the anniversary of Arafat's death.
Guests: Former assistant for security matters to the Supreme Commander (Arafat), Ismail Jabr [currently advisor to Abbas on district affairs] and former head of Arafat's office, Sami Musallam.
PA TV host [addressing Jabr]: "You were at [military] bases and you trained many people, Palestinians and Lebanese. People also say that the Shahid (Martyr) Yasser Arafat instructed that brothers from the Hezbollah and the like should train at Fatah bases – I mean, the bases of the revolution. Is that correct?"
Jabr: "We don't deny that. We do not deny that. There were people from the Hezbollah leadership, who had originally been in Fatah, and they acknowledge this. We are proud of that."
Host: "That is our pride."
Jabr: "The Amal movement (i.e., Shiite national movement in Lebanon, which began as a militia) was among those [that trained]. We are proud of that. We trained them and armed them and withheld no effort from the Lebanese National and Islamic Movement."
Musallam: "Our slogan was always, and still is – [corrects himself] – at that time – ‘All rifles towards the enemy.’ Any rifle which, together with us, was against the enemy – the Fatah movement and the PLO leadership supported it. We are in favor of the national liberation of all the nations which are under colonialism and are under oppression, and we used to help, just as others helped; we used to help others to achieve, or to take part as far as possible so that they would achieve their aims. We helped in Africa, we helped in Latin America, we helped in Asia, in all countries, all nations. The help wasn't necessarily military. The help could [also] be adopting fighters." |
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Fatah event song calls to attack Israel "with the rifle" - PA leaders applaud
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Oct. 17, 2011
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"Oh Palestinians, the revolution is certain,
with the rifle we will impose our new life.
Oh Palestinians, [the Zionist] shot you with the rifle,
the Zionists are killing your doves in your sacred area.
Oh Palestinians, I want to go and be with you.
Fire is in my hands, and with you attack the snake's head (Israel)."
Click to view video
Clapping in the audience:
Abbas Zaki - Member of the Fatah Central Committee
Hanan Ashrawi - PLO Executive Committee member
Abd Al-Rahim Maluh - Member of the PLO Executive Committee
Sultan Abu Al-Einein - Member of the Fatah Central Committee
Note: This video originally aired on Sept. 4, 2011 and was rebroadcast Sept. 5 and Oct. 17, 2011. |
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Fatah official Tirawi: “Fatah has not cast aside the rifle”
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Source:
Ma’an, Palestinian news agency, Oct. 9, 2011
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| "Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq Tirawi said… in a speech which he delivered [at a gathering, 'Welcoming the new students and renewing the oath of loyalty to President Mahmoud Abbas – gathering [in support] of the state no. 194', at Al-Quds Open University in Hebron] on behalf of the Fatah Central Committee, [member Tawfiq] Tirawi opposed what he described as the common policy on Palestine TV, and said, 'Whoever forbids calling the Israeli enemy an enemy is [acting] contrary to the national consciousness and to the principles of occupied nations, and must leave.'… He noted that he opposed the release of the Israeli captive Shalit until all the prisoners in the occupation's prisons have been released. He emphasized that Fatah has not cast aside the rifle, for since the beginning of its activity it has been the leader of the Palestinian national enterprise, and will remain as such." |
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Fatah official Tirawi: Fatah won’t throw down the rifle
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Source:
WAFA news agency, Oct. 8, 2011
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"The [Fatah] Shabiba student movement at the Al-Quds Open University held a gathering today, 'Welcoming the new students and renewing the oath of loyalty to President Mahmoud Abbas – gathering [in support] of the state no. 194'.
Present at the gathering were Fatah Central Committee members Abbas Zaki and Tawfiq Tirawi… The participants at the gathering waved Palestinian flags and keffiyehs, and called to continue the struggle up until the liberation of Palestine, the liberation of the prisoners from the occupation prisons, and the establishment of the independent state with Jerusalem as its capital… In a speech which he delivered on behalf of the President [Abbas]… Zaki said: 'The American administration must understand that our courageous prisoners are the most precious thing that we have, and that the freedom of [Gilad] Shalit is not more important than their freedom. Therefore, the time has come for the USA to come to its senses and not to apply a double standard concerning our cause and our just rights.'… In a speech which he delivered on behalf of the Fatah Central Committee, Tawfiq Tirawi said that the US is the principal enemy of the Palestinian people, because it supports Israel's oppression of us. He said, 'Before casting shoes at Israel, we should cast shoes at its agents… He emphasized that Fatah has not and will not cast away the rifle, for since the beginning of its activity it has been the leader of the Palestinian national enterprise, and it will remain so."
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Rifle dance at PLO cultural festival: "My weapon has emerged"
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Oct. 7, 2011
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"From my wounds, my weapon has emerged.
Oh, our revolution, my weapon has emerged.
There is no force in the world that can remove the weapon from my hand.
My weapon has emerged.
My weapon has emerged.
This revolutionary people has sacrificed and offered in order to live in freedom!
My weapon has emerged.
My weapon has emerged.
He who offers his blood doesn’t care if his blood flows upon the ground.
As the weapon of the revolution is in my hand, so my presence will be forced [upon Israel].
My weapon has emerged.
My weapon has emerged."
Click to view video
Note: The song was broadcast live on PA TV on June 4 and was rebroadcast June 24, July 9, July 13, July 16, July 20, Sept. 21, and Dec. 31, 2010. It was rebroadcast in 2011 on Oct. 3, 4, and 7. A performance of the song without rifles was broadcast on May 14, 2011, on the 63rd anniversary of "Nakba Day" - "Catastrophe Day" - the PA's term for the establishment of the State of Israel. |
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"My hand is on the rifle, machine gun in my hand" - song at ceremony at Al-Quds University broadcast on PA TV
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), June 14, 2011
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Palestinian singer, Abu Arab:
"I'll keep my hand on the rifle, determined and steady, to ensure my people the most honorable return, to you, oh home. I haven't forgotten you, oh my family home, I haven't forgotten you, oh home. I would forget my blood or my wound, if I were to forget you, oh home. For your sake, I'm awake at night, and my machine gun is in my hands. I, [along] with my children and my family, until you return to me. For your sake, I'm awake at night, and my maching gun is in my hands."
Click to view video |
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Governor of Jenin: "Palestine is our land, and the rifle will always be independent"
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 11, 2011
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Governor of Jenin, Qadura Musa:
"During a celebration of the 46th anniversary of the outbreak of the Palestinian revolution, at the Arab-American University in Jenin...
The governor of Jenin, Qadura Musa, said that Fatah maintains its principles, which it set forth in its first announcement, expressed as 'rebellion until victory' (i.e., a well-known Fatah slogan), liberation of the land, and preservation and defense Palestinian human dignity. He also said, 'Palestine is our land, and the rifle will always be independent, and its aim is defense of the Palestinian people and its resources."
Click to view bulletin |
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Fatah member: "Fatah has not laid down the rifle, despite its call for peace"
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 11, 2011
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Fatah member, university head of Student Council, Qassam Azmouti:
"[Fatah] head of the [Arab-American] University [in Jenin]'s Student Council, Qassam Azmouti, noted that Fatah, is the mother of the first Shahid (Martyr) the first prisoner, and the first bullet, and will continue to be the symbol of rebellion and a pioneer of the defenders of Palestine, the land, and the people. He emphasized that Fatah has not laid down the rifle, despite its call for peace, and it remains faithful to the oath of all the Shahids under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas."
Click to view bulletin |
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