Palestinian Media Watch bulletin, August 11, 2010.

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A public Fatah event under the auspices of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas included a song celebrating Fatah’s 1978 terror attack in which 37 Israeli civilians were murdered in a bus hijacking.

In addition, two summer camps for Palestinian youth were named after Dalal Mughrabi, the terrorist who led the 1978 attack.

The song chosen to be performed at the Fatah event glorified the terrorists led by Mughrabi as “birds of prey” and “heroic,” and noted stages of the attack, which started when terrorists landed by sea from Lebanon.

The other new examples of the the glorification of the terrorist Mughrabi in the PA this past week were also connected to youth.

1. At the closing ceremonies of the PA summer camp for girls in Bethlehem named after Mughrabi, which was first reported by Palestinian Media Watch last week, the children were shown “a play named ‘Dalal the Legend,’ which was well-liked by the audience and received applause.” As well, the Secretary of Fatah in Bethlehem, Yousuf Al-Aref, explained that “naming such summer camps after the Shahida (Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi strengthens the sense of belonging and citizenship among Palestinian girls.”

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 5, 2010]

2. PA TV reported extensively on the Dalal Mughrabi summer camp for Palestinian youth held in Syria, focusing on the shirts with Mughrabi’s picture worn by the participants.

The following are excerpts from PA TV’s broadcast of the Fatah event, followed by the article about the Dalal Mughrabi summer camp:

1. Song from the Fatah event honoring the terror attack:

PA TV host: “A public ceremony is being held under the auspices of President Mahmoud Abbas…”

Words of song:

“No one outshines the Fatah member

He mounts his machine gun on the tripod

His eyes are to Al-Aqsa [Mosque] – the Fatah member…

They got off the boats near the shore [to hijack an Israeli bus in 1978]

[Squad leader] Dalal [Mughrabi] fights and battles the soldiers [37 Israeli civilians were killed]

Be safe, you defiant, oh Fatah member!

…

They went [ashore] as birds of prey, the heroic Al-Saika (PLO unit)

The men of Yasser [Arafat], Al-’Asifa (PLO unit)

The enemy’s army fled trembling.

Let’s hail Fatah!”

[PA TV (Fatah), Aug. 4, 2010]

Among the Fatah dignitaries sitting in the first row were:

Mousa Abu Zaid, Member of the Revolutionary Council of Fatah, PA’s Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports

Hafez Barghouti, Editor in Chief of Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Member of the Revolutionary Council of Fatah

Layla Ghanam, Governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh district

Mahmoud Al-Aloul, Member of the Central Committee of Fatah
Jamal Muhaisen, Member of the Central Committee of Fatah

2. Article about the Dalal Mughrabi summer camp

Headline: “Light of the Generations’ Association concludes the second [summer] camp named after Shahida (Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi…

Mahera Al-Jamal [representative of the National Committee of Summer Camps] spoke about the active role of the National Committee in supporting and sponsoring such camps, and she delivered greetings from the General Coordinator, Mousa Abu Zaid….

Secretary of Fatah in Bethlehem, Yousuf Al-Aref said that naming such summer camps after the Shahida Dalal Mughrabi strengthens the sense of belonging and citizenship among Palestinian girls. …

The ‘Freedom Flotilla’ group at the camp put on a play named ‘Dalal the Legend,’ which was well-liked by the audience and received applause, while the ‘Tel Al-Rabi’a [Tel Aviv] and Jerusalem’ group presented an impassioned folkdance.

The song ‘Returning to my country’ moved those present; they expressed their admiration with a standing ovation. A participant in the camp, Batul Khader, concluded the camp by inviting the audience to join in the song, ‘We are not terrorists.’”

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 5, 2010]