March 24, 2010
Special Dispatch No. 2873

Palestinian Authority TV Airs Play from Damascus Opera House Lauding Child Martyrdom, Portraying Jews with Stereotypical Antisemitic Characteristics

On January 10, 2010, an antisemitic play lauding child martyrdom was aired by Palestinian Authority TV.

The play, Wasitat Al-'Iqd ("The Most Beautiful Pearl in the Necklace"), written and directed by Muhammad Omar, was presented at the Damascus Opera House January 10-11, 2010, as part of the Jerusalem – Capital of Arab Culture festivities. It is set in Jerusalem in 2004, and the plot revolves around the "Zionist-Palestinian" conflict in the city.

The following are excerpts from the play.

To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/2426.htm.


Jew: "Your child in exchange for the house. One for the other."

Palestinian man: "Are you authorized [to cut a deal]?"

Jew: "No, no. Absolutely not. You can call it an initiative by a do-gooder. No more."

Palestinian man: "A do-gooder?"

Palestinian woman: "Get out of the house! Get out!"

Jew: "A house can be compensated for, but a child... Think about it. Think about it carefully, and let me know what you've decided. You may find me in the nearby Talmud institute."

Palestinian woman: "A house can be compensated for, but a child... You sons of bitches!"

Chorus: "A house can be compensated for, but a child cannot.

"A house can be compensated for, but a child cannot.

"A house can be compensated for, but a child cannot.

"A house can be compensated for, but a child cannot.

"A child can be compensated for, but a house cannot. No, it can't.

"A child can be compensated for, but a house cannot. No, it can't.

"A child can be compensated for, but the homeland cannot. No, it can't.

"Alaa will be compensated for.

"Mari'i will be compensated for.

"Yahya, Elias, Zahara, and Firas – they will all be compensated for.

"They will all be compensated for.

"But the Canaanite olive tree cannot be compensated for.

"Your land in its entirety, oh Palestine, cannot be compensated for."


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