🇵🇸💰 FOLLOW THE MONEY: PALESTINIAN “KIDS’ SHOWS”
For years, children’s programming in Palestinian territories has doubled as political indoctrination, often bankrolled through foreign donors ... but also our own taxpayer dollars.
Over the next posts, I’ll trace how entertainment for kids became propaganda for war, and how we ended up bankrolling that.
Patience as I pull the thread together.
For years, children’s programming in Palestinian territories has doubled as political indoctrination, often bankrolled through foreign donors ... but also our own taxpayer dollars.
Over the next posts, I’ll trace how entertainment for kids became propaganda for war, and how we ended up bankrolling that.
Patience as I pull the thread together.
The most infamous show was Tomorrow's Pioneers, which aired in 2007-2009, with a revival in 2013. In one of its episodes, a Mickey Mouse look-alike was "safeguarded" with the trust of getting Tel Al-Rabi land back (Tel Aviv).
After being safeguarded with the trust to get the land back, Farfour's grandfather died and Farfour is in agony about how to get the land back for him.
Farfour is approached by investors and refuses to give the land over. He is also approached with peace deals, saying that he can co-exist in the land. He rejects them all - the only acceptable condition is that Farfour's people own all the land.
At the end of the program, Farfour is martyred in defending his land.
This was just one episode of Tomorrow's Pioneers. Many of its episodes echoed similar sentiments, including a bunny mascot that declared "I, Assud, will get rid of the Jews, and I will eat them up, Allah willing!"
The show was produced by Al-Aqsa TV, strictly controlled by Hamas and designated a terrorist group by US Treasury in 2010.
The show was produced by Al-Aqsa TV, strictly controlled by Hamas and designated a terrorist group by US Treasury in 2010.
The director of Al-Aqsa TV at the time of the production was Fathi Hammad, a longtime member of the Muslim Brotherhood and a member of the now-defunct Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) which had been the legislative body of Palestinian Authority.
I have to take back a step here and explain a little about how Palestine government works (my understanding is limited, so please correct).
Palestinian Authority (PA) was created under the 1994 Oslo Accords and gets foreign aid. It governs part of the West Bank along with Israel. Hamas controls Gaza Strip.
PA can coordinate some foreign aid to Gaza, but UNRWA runs most of the foreign aid operation.
Hamas Political Bureau (Politburo) is Hamas' main decision-making body.
Palestinian Authority (PA) was created under the 1994 Oslo Accords and gets foreign aid. It governs part of the West Bank along with Israel. Hamas controls Gaza Strip.
PA can coordinate some foreign aid to Gaza, but UNRWA runs most of the foreign aid operation.
Hamas Political Bureau (Politburo) is Hamas' main decision-making body.
Fathi Hammad, who oversaw the Al-Aqsa TV network during the run of Tomorrow's Pioneers, ia a member of Hamas Politburo, positioning him as one of the most powerful Hamas politicians.
The overlap between Hamas and UNRWA goes deep. For example, Suheil Al-Hindi is a member of Hamas Politburo -- while being a principal of UNRWA school and head of the UNRWA Palestinian worker's union.
Another infamous instance of overlap was when Fateh al-Sharif, UNRWA school teacher, was found to have been responsible for Hamas' political and military actions in Lebanon and was working with Hezbelloah to attack Israel.
Under Obama and Biden administrations, UNRWA received heavy funding from the United States. 19 UNRWA members were alleged to have participated in Oct 7th attacks and even an internal UNRWA investigation concluded that nine "may" have participated.
One of UNRWA's partner organizations is Open Society Foundations.
The official broadcaster of the Palestinian Authority is Palestinain Broadcasting Corporation (PBC). They, too, have hosted kids' shows celebrating martyrdom.
A 2016 Congressional report shows the extent of the US support for Palestine. In it, the US is the single largest state donor to UNRWA. The US also provided money directly to Palestinian Authority, although it was well aware that PA funded questionable activities.
These children's TV shows have been recurring subjects of Israeli media outrage. Palestine accused them of "double standards" due to as Israel's own occupation of Palestine.
Note the name of the Palestinian Information Minister below who denounced the criticism - Mustafa Barghouti.
Note the name of the Palestinian Information Minister below who denounced the criticism - Mustafa Barghouti.
Barghouti is a regular participant in UNRWA conferences, including their "Engaging Youth" project which aims to improve the well-being of children.
A declassified Israel report found that 12% of UNRWA members were members of Hamas or other terrorist factions. The vast majority were employed in education and teaching.
I think that's probably enough for one thread. This meme is more true than ever:
Once again:
Criticizing Hamas terrorists does not obligate me to criticize AIPAC. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Criticizing Hamas terrorists does not obligate me to criticize AIPAC. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
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