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Behind the Headlines: Palestinian incitement – An obstacle to peace
Behind the Headlines: Palestinian incitement – An obstacle to peace
23 Feb 2014
MFASummary
Incitement to hatred and terrorism must end. Terrorists should not be =
glorified, Jews should not be demonized and Israel’s existence should not b=
e =
called into question.
http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Issues/Pages/Palestinian-incitement-An-=
obstacle-to-peace-Feb-2014.aspx
1. The harm to peace caused by incitement to hatred and violence
Incitement is the term used to refer to statements and actions which =
encourage the hatred and delegitimization that in turn inspire violence, as =
well as declarations and deeds that support or promote terrorist activity.
The culture of hatred cultivated by the Palestinian Authority (PA) against =
Israel undermines the chances for peace between Israel and the Palestinians=
. =
Incitement has continued unabated for many years and despite the current =
negotiations between Israel and the PA that began on 30 July 2013.
More than ever, during this decisive period of ongoing talks, which Israel =
hopes will lead to peace, incitement to hatred and violence cannot be =
allowed to continue. The terrorism which results from the Palestinian hate =
campaign not only takes a human toll but challenges the basic tenets of =
peaceful negotiations.
Incitement and peace do not go together. When the next generation of =
Palestinians is educated for peace and coexistence – as Israeli children =
already are – the chances for true peace will increase.
2. The rise in Palestinian violence
There has been a noticeable rise in the number of terrorist attacks and =
violent acts against Israeli citizens in the West Bank and Jerusalem since =
the start of the negotiations with the PA.
Terrorist attacks – including by explosive devices, small arms fire and =
firebombs (Molotov Cocktails) – saw a steady increase: from 76 attacks in =
July to 160 attacks in November 2013. There also was an intensification of =
the lethal nature of these attacks, which have caused the deaths of four =
Israelis since 30 July 2013. Additionally, a bomb exploded on a bus near Te=
l =
Aviv in December 2013, an attack which could have caused a great number of =
casualties had the bomb not been spotted in time.
3. The incitement-terrorism link
Despite the apparent absence of a direct link between the various terrorist =
incidents, these attacks are connected to the constant stream of incitement =
to violence and hatred against Israel, emanating from the West Bank, =
primarily through official channels related to the Palestinian Authority.
Incitement is even more harmful than “regular” hate speech. It not only =
delegitimizes its target, it serves to inspire violence against the victim =
and promote terrorist attacks.
Much of this incitement is propagated in official PA media and in many =
instances, by PA officials. These officials, including senior Palestinian =
figures, not only endorse but actually carry out acts of incitement.
Incitement and hatred toward Israel, and often Jews as well, is spread by =
Palestinian Authority controlled television, radio stations and newspapers =
as well as internet outlets. Incitement also occurs during official =
ceremonies, official speeches, at summer camps and in public schools. It is =
often aimed at children and young people.
This culture of hatred is a decisive factor in increasing both the number o=
f =
terrorist attacks and their severity. Children are educated to hate Jews an=
d =
Israelis from an early age, teenagers are urged to participate in violent =
demonstrations and stone-throwing while adults are encouraged to carry out =
terrorist attacks.
The connection between nurturing hatred and the increase in violence and =
terrorism is far from theoretical. In a recent Pew poll (10 September 2013) =
of global attitudes surveying the Muslim populations in 11 =
countries/territories, the only majority to support suicide bombings was =
found in the West Bank and Gaza. Over 60% of Palestinian Muslims believe =
that suicide bombings were often or sometimes justified (37% often, 25% =
sometimes). The next closest country – where support was nearly half of tha=
t =
of the Palestinians – was Lebanon with 33% (9% often, 24% sometimes).
4. Types of Palestinian incitement to violence and hatred
Several types of incitement contribute to this problem and severely =
undermine prospects for peace. These include:
A. The glorification of terrorists who have murdered Israeli civilians. =
The constant veneration of terrorists, including by the highest ranking =
officials of the PA, serves to justify past and current attacks, while =
encouraging future attacks. Palestinian children and youngsters are =
deliberately exposed to this propaganda, leading to hero-worship of these =
dangerous figures.
B. Advocating struggle against Israel, in particular through the =
promotion of “resistance,” a commonly-used Palestinian codeword for =
terrorism. The Palestinian position that the struggle must continue until =
Israel is replaced by a Palestinian state is a recurring theme in incitemen=
t =
and even calls for jihad have been recorded. This despite the renewal of =
negotiations with Israel.
C. The publication of false claims that Israel or the Jews are =
endangering Muslim holy sites, such as the Al-Aksa mosque on the Temple =
Mount in Jerusalem. These fabrications have sparked Palestinian violence in =
the past.
D. The demonization of Jews and Israelis, including by the use of =
antisemitic motifs. The hatred generated by this incitement is a precursor =
to violence and terrorism, which relies in part on the dehumanization of th=
e =
target.
E. The denial of Israel’s existence and its delegitimization in any =
borders, in part by denying the existence of a Jewish people and its =
historic, religious and cultural ties to the land of Israel. This denial =
encourages violence and harms prospects for peace, as a true resolution of =
the conflict is not possible until the Palestinians are willing to recogniz=
e =
Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people.
This incitement to hatred and terrorism must end. Terrorists should not be =
glorified, Jews should not be demonized and Israel’s existence should not b=
e =
called into question.
Examples of Incitement since 30 July 2013
A. Glorification of terrorists
Ramadan campaign honoring terrorists:
During last year’s Ramadan period (July-August 2013), the Palestinian =
Authority (PA) focused on the glorification of terrorists and their attacks=
. =
Twenty-two murderers of 238 Israelis were honored. Officials, in particular =
PA Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Karake, made almost daily visits to =
the family homes of terrorists. These visits were highly publicized, while =
PA TV broadcasts many programs glorifying the terrorists, who also had thei=
r =
pictures posted on the Facebook page of Fatah (the ruling party of the PA) =
The Ramadan holiday period traditionally sees very high TV viewership rates.
Abbas holds ceremonies honoring terrorists released from Israeli prison:
After each release of convicted terrorists in the framework of Israeli =
measures to advance the negotiations, PA President Mahmoud Abbas has held =
televised public ceremonies honoring the terrorists, the vast majority of =
whom were convicted of murder. For example, on 30 October 2013, Abbas =
congratulated 21 terrorists from the West Bank after their release from =
prison. In a ceremony broadcast on official PA TV, he called them “our =
heroic brothers” and is seen embracing them. In the final shot, he is shown =
raising the hand of Issa Abd Rabbo, who in 1984 murdered two Israeli =
students who had been hiking near Jerusalem.
Abbas honors terrorist leader with PA’s highest award:
President Abbas posthumously awarded the terrorist leader Abu Jihad (Khalil =
Al-Wazir) the Palestinian Authority’s highest award, the Star of Honor. Abu =
Jihad was the head of the PLO’s military wing and planned attacks that =
murdered 125 Israelis, including the 1978 bus hijacking that killed 37 =
civilians, including more than a dozen children. The ceremony was broadcast =
on official PA TV news on 27 November 2013, during which the =
Secretary-General of the Presidential Office read a decree signed by Abbas =
that called Abu Jihad “the model of a true fighter and devoted leader.” The =
terrorist’s wife, Um Jihad, was then handed the award by Abbas.
Jibril Rajoub praises a terrorist at a memorial ceremony:
While PA President Mahmoud Abbas was in New York in September 2013 to speak =
at the UN General Assembly, the Palestinian Olympic Committee Chairman =
Jibril Rajoub (a highly-popular official who is also a member of Fatah’s =
Central Committee) delivered a speech on behalf of Abbas at an official =
memorial for Ahmad Jabara Abu Sukka. Abu Sukka was the terrorist who planne=
d =
the 1975 bombing in Jerusalem that killed 15 Israelis and wounded more than =
60. Abbas’ speech praised Abu Sukka as a “hero,” “legend” and “giant.” =
Rajoub is the same official who threatened Israel with nuclear destruction, =
when in April 2013 – this time using his own words – he said in an intervie=
w =
to PA television that “we as yet don=92t have a nuke, but I swear that if w=
e =
had a nuke, we=92d have used it this very morning.=94
B. Promoting violence and terrorism
Rajoub on armed “resistance” and conflict:
In an interview to Al-Alam TV (3 February 2014) during a recent visit to =
Iran, Fatah Central Committee member Jibril Rajoub, stated: “We have never =
given up our arms. We have never left the battlefield, and we have never =
raised a white flag. No one can lecture Fatah or its leadership in this =
regard. The resistance is still a strategic option, and armed resistance is =
on the table=85. As I’ve told you, we want to maintain the state of conflic=
t =
between Palestine and the occupation. This applies to all components of the =
Palestinian people, because we want all the Palestinians to participate in =
the resistance.”
Fatah Facebook page posts terrorist group’s video threatening Israel:
On 17 November 2013, Fatah published a video on its main Facebook page made =
by its internationally-recognized terrorist wing, Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades=
. =
In the video, a masked terrorist sits on a large stockpile of over a hundre=
d =
rockets and threatens Israel, stating “Praise Allah, our jihad fighters hav=
e =
managed to develop these rockets so they will reach the Zionist depth =
[Israel].” The song that accompanies the video includes the following =
lyrics: “Detonate your revolution of rage in their [the Israeli's] midst. =
Bombard them with your fire and shoot them…. Death is in your cup – make =
them drink!”
PA minister calls for jihad in Jerusalem:
In a speech given on 13 January 2014 and broadcast on official PA TV, the P=
A =
Minister of Religious Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash, criticized the jihadists =
fighting in Syria and called instead for a jihad on Jerusalem. He stated, =
among other remarks: “Whoever wants resistance, whoever wants jihad, the =
direction for jihad is well-known and clear=85. Those who send young people=
to =
Syria or elsewhere to die for a misdirected cause must stop and understand =
that Jerusalem is still waiting. Jerusalem is the direction, Jerusalem is =
the address.”
Children “kill Israelis” in an officially sponsored play:
Official PA TV broadcast an ad on 9 December 2013 announcing an event by =
Ramallah’s Youth Club, under the auspices of Palestinian Authority Presiden=
t =
Mahmoud Abbas. The young Palestinians put on a play which praises martyrdom =
(“In life, it’s either victory or martyrdom death for Allah”) and glorifies =
violence. During the play, Fatah and Hamas supporters unite to shoot and =
kill the “Israelis.” They then find a Palestinian “spy,” who is forced to =
kneel down and is then shot in his head, to the cheers of the audience. =
After the play, PA Minister of Culture Anwar Abu Aisha invited real-life =
terrorists released by Israel onto the stage and awarded them PA plaques of =
honor.
C. Falsehoods about threats to Muslim holy sites
PA falsely accuses Israel of planning to destroy Al-Aqsa Mosque:
Palestinian accusations falsely claiming that Israel is trying to destroy =
the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem are highly dangerous. On 28 September 2013, =
a Palestinian Authority daily newspaper published a cartoon showing Orthodo=
x =
Jews destroying the Temple Mount foundations.
D. Demonization and antisemitism
Antisemitic cartoon series:
An official PA television station broadcast an antisemitic cartoon series =
daily during Ramadan 2013 (July-August). The series, directed at children, =
portrays ugly hook-nosed Jews as evil, warmongering followers of the devil.
Israel and the US depicted as devils:
A cartoon published in late August 2013 on Fatah’s main Facebook page =
depicts Israel and the US as green-faced devils in a cemetery digging a =
grave for the “Arab conscience.”
PA TV dehumanizes Jews and Israelis:
“Sights of Jerusalem,” an official PA TV program broadcast on 18 October =
2013, included statements and visuals that dehumanized Jews and Israelis. O=
n =
the background of Orthodox Jews climbing a staircase, the narrator said “th=
e =
crows pass by and caw,” while he states “the rats are armed” while pictures =
of Israeli soldiers were broadcast. In addition the broadcast denied the =
thousands of years of Jewish presence in Jerusalem, calling Israelis =
“foreigners.”
Palestinian use of Nazi symbols:
Palestinians frequently use Nazi symbols and gestures. Fatah activists were =
photographed giving the Nazi salute in Abu Dis, near Jerusalem in November =
2013, while in the same month students at Al Quds University were pictured =
making the identical salute.
E. Denying Israel’s existence
Official PA TV teaches children that Israel is Palestine:
On 20 December 2013, “The Best Home,” an official PA TV show for children =
broadcast children singing “Oh flying bird,” a song which falsely defines =
cities in Israel as part of Palestine. Among the lyrics, “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. Don’t forget Nazareth – the Arab fortress – and tell Beit Shean abou=
t =
its people’s return.” All these cities and towns are in Israel. There are a=
t =
least seven versions of this song and they have been broadcast to children =
on official PA TV dozens of times since 2011.
Israel presented as Palestine during Barcelona football team visit:
During a news broadcast on the visit by the FC Barcelona football team, a P=
A =
TV commentator described Palestine as reaching “from Eilat [in Israel's =
south] to Rosh Hanikra [in Israel's north].” At the Barcelona event in =
Hebron (3 August 2013), a song was performed by the popular “Arab Idol” =
winner that portrayed the Israeli cities of Haifa, Safed and Acre as =
Palestinian cities.
Main Terrorist Attacks since 30 July 2013
An off-duty IDF soldier was lured to the West Bank by a Palestinian =
co-worker and murdered (September 20).
A young soldier was shot dead (September 22) in Hebron, near the Cave of th=
e =
Patriarchs.
On October 10, a 61-year-old Israeli civilian was murdered, and his spouse =
injured, when they were attacked by two Palestinians wielding an ax and iro=
n =
bars in what is suspected to be a terrorist attack.
A Palestinian man rammed a tractor through the gate of an army base north o=
f =
Jerusalem on October 17 before he was stopped. (In 2008, Palestinians =
carried out a series of terror attacks in Jerusalem involving tractors. =
Three Israelis were killed and nearly 60 people injured.)
On October 20, a Palestinian man brandished a knife attempted to stab Jewis=
h =
passengers on a bus travelling northwest of Bethlehem.
A soldier sleeping on a bus in Afula in northern Israel was stabbed to deat=
h =
on November 13.
A two-year-old girl sustained moderate injuries caused by stone-throwers, =
while traveling in a car on November 28 near the Armon Hanatziv neighborhoo=
d =
of Jerusalem.
A disaster was averted on December 22 when a bomb was discovered moments =
before exploding on a bus in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv. One of the terrorists =
subsequently arrested admitted that his cell was prepared to execute anothe=
r =
major terror attack in the Tel Aviv-Jaffa area in the following days.
Two other attacks occurred within a 24 hour period of the bus bombing. Also =
on December 22, the Border Police thwarted a knife-wielding terrorist attac=
k =
near Ma=92aleh Adumim in the West Bank. The next day, in a separate attack =
in =
the West Bank outside of Jerusalem, a police officer was stabbed in the bac=
k =
with a 15-centimeter knife by a Palestinian man.
A Jewish man was stabbed in the neck in Jerusalem on January 11, 2014 by an =
Arab youth.
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