Palestinian TV's Tribute to Arafat Features Violence and Incitement

In commemoration of the anniversary of the death of PLO leader and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Authority television all last week broadcast a music video featuring violent, anti-Israel lyrics.

According to Palestinian Media Watch which monitors and translates the content of West Bank and Gaza media outlets:

The lyrics of the song glorify death, describing how "death for the sake of Palestine is good," and how "I have poured the blood of self-sacrifice on your path."

The song honors Arafat as someone who was "friends with the rifle," who "declared the revolution and continued to fight," "did not tire," and "did not give up on the principles."

The lyrics end with a promise to Arafat to continue his militant path: "We swear at your grave, by Allah, not to forget your name and your oath. We have not abandoned your weapon."

Here is the video with English subtitles provided by PalWatch:

Palestinian Media Watch staffers say the video clip was broadcast almost every day for a week coinciding with the seventh anniversary of Arafat's death on November 11th. It was produced by the official television station of the Palestinian Authority and answers to PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Palestinian Authority's glorification of violence was most recently demonstrated earlier this month when PA President Mahmoud Abbas rewarded terrorists released from Israeli prison with a $5,000 grant and announced an effort to provide new housing for those who returned to the West Bank.

As part of peace agreements Arafat signed with Israel starting with the 1993 Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority committed itself to purge its textbooks and official media outlets of anti-Semitic and violence-inciting content.

This music video and anniversary serving as another reminder of the Nobel committee's questionable choice of former terrorist Arafat as recipient of its Peace Prize in 1994.