“We replaced bracelets with weapons” song chosen by the PA for Expo 2020 Dubai
“We replaced bracelets with weapons” - song glorifying violence
Second song at event misrepresented Israeli cities as in “Palestine”
Last month, the PLO embassy in the United Arab Emirates celebrated Palestinian National Day at the Expo 2020 in Dubai. Among the songs at the event was the well-known Palestinian hit Oh Flying Bird that presents a world without Israel, misrepresenting several Israeli cities as if they were in “Palestine.” Another song, a PA terror promoting classic, was also featured at the event: Pull the Trigger glorifies violence and announces that “we replaced bracelets with weapons.” Both messages are of course in line with PA policies and ideologies as Palestinian Media Watch has exposed. While Oh Flying Birddenies the existence of Israel and tells the story of a bird that visits places in “Palestine” that include Israeli cities like Jaffa, Acre, and Haifa, Pull the Trigger calls on Palestinians to “redeem the country” by using violence. The following are excerpts of the songs broadcast live by official PA TV from the event:
Lyrics: “The orchard called us to the struggle
We replaced bracelets with weapons
We attacked the despicable [Zionists]
Pull the trigger
We shall redeem Jerusalem, Nablus, and the country”[Official PA TV, Dec. 24, 2021]
Lyrics: “Oh flying bird, circling around,
by Allah, oh traveling [bird], I burn with envy.
My country Palestine is beautiful.
Go to Jenin and bring me from its valley greetings to Nablus, Tulkarem and their soil.
Drink the water of Jaffa's port, don't forget Ramle (i.e., Israeli cities) and Ramallah.
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 (i.e., all Israeli cities).
Don't forget Nazareth, the Arab fortress, and tell Beit Shean (i.e., Israeli cities) about its people's return”[Official PA TV, Dec. 24, 2021]
PMW has documented the PA’s frequent use of both songs as entertainment on official PA TV. Of Flying Bird has appeared in a dozen different versions and recently was also played at an event funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, while Pull the Trigger was broadcast just a month ago on official PA TV.
The following is a longer excerpt of the song “Pull the Trigger”:
“The Zionists coveted [our] homeland,
compounding damage and enmity
But the popular revolution awaits [them]
The orchard called us to the struggle
We replaced bracelets with weapons
We attacked the despicable [Zionists]
We do not want [internal] strife or disputes
While this invading enemy is on the battlefield
This is the day that Jihad is needed
Pull the trigger.
We shall redeem Jerusalem, Nablus and the country”
For the event, the Palestinian embassy had chosen Jordanian-Palestinian singer Toni Qattan to perform some songs and the Asayel group to dance.