Hilary Stars in Palestinian Hearing
Officially, the hearing was called to examine the question of whether U.S. aid is being used to further Palestinian incitement; unofficially, political observers say it was meant to underline the pro-Israel credentials of Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), chair of the Senate subcommittee on Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education.
But it was Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) - who isn’t even on the committee, but asked Specter for permission to participate in the hearing - who stole the show with some pointed questions about continuing Palestinian incitement.
Clinton, addressing Hassan Abdel Rahman, the longtime Palestinian Authority representative in Washington, accused Yasir Arafat’s government of inculcating children in a “culture of death,” and said that the indoctrination of Palestinian children in violence as a form of “child abuse.”
In a teleconference with reporters after the hearing, Clinton said Rahman had “evaded” her pointed questions about Palestinian television broadcasts that “manipulated children into expressing strong support for and a desire to be a martyr.”
The hearing also included testimony by Itamar Marcus, director of Palestinian Media Watch, who offered lawmakers and staffers graphic examples of anti-Israel incitement on Palestinian television.
Marcus showed a PMW video documentary on how the PA encourages children to follow the example of Palestinian suicide bombers, and described incitement “through the entire social-educational structure, including sporting events and summer camps, the media including music videos for children and schoolbooks.”
One example he offered the senators: soccer matches and summer camps named to honor Palestinian suicide bombers.
Also on the panel: Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America and David Satterfield, a senior State Department official who conceded that the PA continues to tolerate incitement.
But by most accounts it was Sen. Clinton who stole the show. “She was polite, but she didn’t let Rahman get away with any crap,” said an official with a major Jewish group here. “It was a tour de force.”
But it was Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) - who isn’t even on the committee, but asked Specter for permission to participate in the hearing - who stole the show with some pointed questions about continuing Palestinian incitement.
Clinton, addressing Hassan Abdel Rahman, the longtime Palestinian Authority representative in Washington, accused Yasir Arafat’s government of inculcating children in a “culture of death,” and said that the indoctrination of Palestinian children in violence as a form of “child abuse.”
In a teleconference with reporters after the hearing, Clinton said Rahman had “evaded” her pointed questions about Palestinian television broadcasts that “manipulated children into expressing strong support for and a desire to be a martyr.”
The hearing also included testimony by Itamar Marcus, director of Palestinian Media Watch, who offered lawmakers and staffers graphic examples of anti-Israel incitement on Palestinian television.
Marcus showed a PMW video documentary on how the PA encourages children to follow the example of Palestinian suicide bombers, and described incitement “through the entire social-educational structure, including sporting events and summer camps, the media including music videos for children and schoolbooks.”
One example he offered the senators: soccer matches and summer camps named to honor Palestinian suicide bombers.
Also on the panel: Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America and David Satterfield, a senior State Department official who conceded that the PA continues to tolerate incitement.
But by most accounts it was Sen. Clinton who stole the show. “She was polite, but she didn’t let Rahman get away with any crap,” said an official with a major Jewish group here. “It was a tour de force.”