During the month of Ramadan, Hizbullah's satellite television channel Al-Manar, which is viewed worldwide, broadcasted a 30-part antisemitic Syrian-produced series titled Al-Shatat ("Diaspora"). According to a November 11, 2003 report by the Syrian daily Syria Times, it is "a Syrian TV series recording the criminal history of Zionism." [1]
The following is a transcript of excerpts from episode twenty, which depicts Jews carrying out a 'Blood Libel,' in which a Christian child is ritually murdered and his blood is used to bake Passover matzas. To view video segments from episode twenty, please visit www.memri.org/video.
Al-Shatat, Episode 20
Scene 1:
Rabbi: "Well, we have a mission from the leadership, and we must carry it out quickly."
Young Jewish Man: "What is it?"
Rabbi: "Listen. We want the blood of a Christian child before Passover, for the matzos."
Rabbi: "Don't think too hard… Joseph, the son of Helen, your neighbor."
Young Jewish Man: "Joseph? Why Joseph specifically?"
Rabbi: "I'll explain it to you later. First do it."
Scene 2:
Rabbi: "Nathan is very late."
Young Jewish Man: "True. I'm beginning to worry."
Rabbi: "If anyone suspects anything, we'll abort the operation, and tell Nathan to say that he brought Joseph here just for a walk."
Nathan: "Hello."
Young Jewish Man: "Hello."
Young Jewish Man: "Did anyone see you?"
Nathan: "No."
Young Jewish Man: "Are you sure?"
Nathan: "Of course."
Rabbi: "Let's start immediately."
Joseph: "Nathan, I want to go home."
Nathan: "Of course, my dear. We'll go in a little bit."
Joseph: "Nathan, where are you taking me?"
Nathan: "Don't be afraid, Joseph. Don't be afraid."
Joseph: "Nathan, take me back!"
Nathan: "Don't be afraid, my dear, don't be afraid."
Joseph: "Nathan! Help me! Mama! Mama!"
(The men hold Joseph while his throat is slit and his blood is poured into a metal basin.)
Scene 3:
Jewish Man: "Hello."
Rabbi: "Hello."
Rabbi: "Good Passover."
Jewish Man: "Good Passover."
Rabbi: "Isn't it a mistake to have Passover without inviting the rabbi?"
Jewish Man: "Never mind, Rabbi. You know me. I'm not religious."
Rabbi: "This is why I am looking for you. I want to let you taste the holy Passover matzo. Then maybe you will come back to your religion."
Jewish Man: "No thanks. I don't want to."
Rabbi: "No, no. You must eat this, if not for my sake, for the sake of God."
Jewish Man: "Thank you."
Rabbi: "How is it? Tasty?"
Jewish Man: "Plain. Like all the matzos in the world."
Rabbi: "No, make no mistake. This one is tastier and holier because it was kneaded with pure blood, the blood of Joseph."
[1] Syria Times (Damascus), November 11, 2003.
