13 April 2007 (2007-04-13)– 16 October 2009 (2009-10-16)
Tomorrow's Pioneers[a] is a Palestinianchildren's television show that was broadcast by the Hamas-affiliated television station Al-Aqsa TV from 13 April 2007 to 16 October 2009, hosted by a young Saraa Barhoum and her co-host, a large costumed character, performing skits and discussing life in Palestine in a talk show fashion with call-ins from young children. Directed by Hazim Al-Sha'arawi, the show is considered to be the successor to an earlier Hamas-broadcast children's radio programme titled Afnan and Aghsan, which was also moderated by Al-Sha'arawi.
Presented in a children's educational format similar to other preschool shows like Sesame Street or Barney & Friends, Tomorrow's Pioneers teaches Islamist morals and values, periodically quoting the Hadith and Quran. According to various news outlets and western sources, the show also contains antisemitic,[2]anti-American,[3] and other anti-Western themes.[4] The Israeli Institute for Palestinian Media Monitoring has characterised the show's messages as "hostile", while Israeli affairs expert Saleh Al-Naami claims that "talking about the liberation of prisoners is a just demand guaranteed by international laws and regulations, while talking about the love of the land and homeland is normal."[5]
Tomorrow's Pioneers gained attention from Disney, who ordered that the first co-host, Farfour, be written out of the show due to his strong resemblance to Mickey Mouse.[6] In direct response, Farfour was killed in the fifth episode in what the show referred to as a martyrdom, and he was replaced by his cousin, a giant bumblebee named Nahoul, who served as the show's second co-host. Nahoul later died due to an unspecified illness, and he was subsequently replaced by his brother, a pink rabbit named Assoud, who was mortally wounded by an Israeli airstrike. The next two co-hosts, Nassur the Bear and Karkour the Chicken, continued to spread the show's beliefs, though the actor who supposedly played Karkour, Mohamed al-Arir, was killed in 2014 due to his affiliation with Hamas.[7]
Background
Tomorrow's Pioneers revolves around a host, originally Saraa Barhoum, and a costumed character performing comedic or educational skits and discussing life in Palestine in a talk show fashion with call-ins from children. Directed by Hazim Al-Sha'arawi, the show is considered the successor to an earlier Hamas-broadcast radio programme that Al-Shara'awi also moderated called Afnan and Aghsan.[b][8]
In the State of Palestine, Hamas-funded social, cultural and children's institutions have become an integral part of their agenda. These institutions engage in incitement, social radicalization and recruitment.[9][10] According to an FBI report, Hamas has funded schools to convert children into suicide terrorists.[11][12] Hamas considers media as a "decisive weapon"[13] that effectively spreads information in support of the organization and its ideologies via newspapers, leaflets, websites, television, radio, affiliated mosques, and supporting vocal groups.[14][15] On 9 January 2006, after Hamas won the Palestinian legislative election, the organisation launched its own channel, Al-Aqsa TV, targeted at both Palestinian and global audiences.[16] Moreover, the children's shows broadcast on Al-Aqsa TV spread Hamas's ideologies,[14] exemplified by Tomorrow's Pioneers.[2]
Characters
Saraa Barhoum (April 2007 – October 2009)
Saraa Barhoum (Arabic: سرّاء برهوم), who hosted Tomorrow's Pioneers, was around 10–11 years old when the show started.[17] During gaps between shooting Tomorrow's Pioneers, Saraa took the opportunity to develop her singing career. She has starred in at least one music video, "Educate the Children" (Arabic: علم الأولاد), with Palestinian children's songwriter Fekry Namous.[18] The video depicts missile-shaped darts being thrown at the Star of David, and was criticised for promoting the message "that death, not life, is the prime value".[19] Saraa's uncle, Fawzi Barhoum[ar], is a Hamas spokesman.[20] In an August 2007 interview, Saraa said she wanted to be a doctor, and if not that, then a martyr.[17] Saraa is not present after the original run of the show; instead, a new host named Maryam[c] takes her place.[21]
Uncle Hazim (April–May 2007)
Hazim Al-Sha'arawi, the show's creator and moderator, has appeared in several episodes as Uncle Hazim (also rendered as Uncle Hazem). The uncle of the first co-host, a mouse named Farfour, Uncle Hazim often plays the role of the disciplinarian when Farfour does something wrong. In episode 101, he chides Farfour for speaking in English,[22] and in episode 104, he initially holds Farfour responsible for cheating on his exam.[23][24]
Farfour (April–June 2007)
Farfour (Arabic: فرفور; also rendered as Farfur), a mouse whose design resembles Mickey Mouse,[25] is a costumed character with a high-pitched voice who co-hosted Tomorrow's Pioneers with Saraa.[5] On the show, Farfour has expressed pro-Islamist views, stating that the two of them "are laying the foundation for a world led by Islamists"[22] and they "will return the Islamic community to its former greatness" by liberating Jerusalem and Iraq, among other countries in the Islamic world that have been "invaded by the murderers."[25][22] In episode 103, he simulates shooting an AK-47 and throwing grenades.[3][26] In episode 105, Farfour is depicted as being beaten to death during an interrogation by an Israeli who is trying to acquire the key and title to "Tel al-Rabi", a fictional Palestinian settlement, referred to in the show as having been occupied and renamed Tel Aviv.[27][28] Farfour is replaced as co-host in episode 202 by Nahoul, his bumblebee cousin. The idea for the story arc involving Farfour's death came from Al-Sha'arawi.[20]
Response from Disney
The Disney corporation initially had no public statement on the use of Mickey Mouse's image in the Farfour character. Disney CEO Robert Iger later said the company was "appalled by the use of [their] character to disseminate that kind of message", explaining the initial lack of response due to the expectations that the TV show would not have any effect, and "it should have been obvious how the company felt about the subject".[29]Walt Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller, asserted to the press that "[i]t's not just [about] Mickey, it's [about] indoctrinating children like this, teaching them to be evil."[30]
In a response letter, Tomorrow's Pioneers director, Fathi Hammad, said: "Before ... [anyone] object[s] to our [program], we are trying to install in our children's memories the interest in [the] lift[ing of] the siege on our people and [the end of] support for the usurper entity of our land and killing our children. ... [T]he Palestinian people continue to struggle not indifferent to such [as] are left with the executioner and victim."[31] The storyline in which Farfour was killed off and replaced by Nahoul came in direct response to actions by the Disney family.[6]
Several months after Disney's response, Hamas television again made use of Disney characters, this time in a five-minute cartoon attacking Fatah. The clip depicted the competing movement and its former local leader Mohammed Dahlan as corrupt and anti-Islamic rats, while portraying Hamas as a confident lion based on the Simba character from the 1994 film The Lion King. While Hamas TV executive Hazam Sharawi said the clip was pulled for revising, including removal of the Dahlan depiction, he said there were no plans to remove reference to The Lion King.[32] In September 2008, Fatah began broadcasting a competing children's show on the official Palestinian Authority TV (PA TV) network. This programme featured the Mickey and Minnie Mouse characters, who appeared in an episode where children glorified Dalal Mughrabi, a young woman who participated in the 1978 coastal road massacre.[33]
Nahoul (July–February 2008)
Nahoul (Arabic: نحول; also rendered as Nahul or Nahool) is a bumblebee character with a high-pitched voice who co-hosted Tomorrow's Pioneers with Saraa following Farfour's death. When introduced on Friday, 13 July 2007, he promised "revenge upon the enemies of God, the murderers of the prophets", and "continue in the path of Farfour – the path of Islam, of heroism, of martyrdom, of the mujahideen."[34][35] On the show, Nahoul has stated such things as: "We will liberate Al-Aqsa from the filth of the criminal Jews", and "We will go on Jihad when we grow up."[36] In episode 204, Nahoul visits the zoo, where he proceeds to swing cats by their tails and throw them around their cage.[37] He later throws stones into a cage of lions, taunting them with his stinger. After the incident, Saraa chastises him against doing it again, citing a story in the Hadith in which a woman went to hell for starving her cat.[38] In February 2008, it was revealed that Nahoul was very sick and in need of an operation. Although Nahoul and his parents travelled to Al-Arish, Egypt, for medical treatment, but they were denied permission to leave Gaza by Israeli authorities.[39] He dies in what the show calls "a martyr's death".[40]
Nahoul's new costume
In 2013, Nahoul was resurrected, this time with a different bumblebee costume. His stance on Jewish people remains the same, stating that they should be stoned and beaten until their faces "turn red as a tomato".[41] In another episode, Maryam explains to Nahoul the concept of negotiations, which involves forgiving the Zionists for the deaths of numerous martyrs, as well as the division of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, but she later claimed that she chose the path of resistance.[42] On 28 July 2014, the actor who played Nahoul and Karkour the chicken,[d] Muhammad al-Alrir, was killed by Israeli missiles due to his affiliation with Hamas.[7][43]
Assoud (Arabic: أسّود, lit.'lion'; also rendered as Assud), a Bugs Bunny or Roger Rabbit-like character, was introduced after his brother, the previous co-host, Nahoul, died of illness.[40] In explaining why he is called Assoud, when Arnoub (Arabic: أرنب, lit.'rabbit') would be more appropriate, Assoud says that "A rabbit is a term for a bad person and coward", and that he "will finish off the Jews and eat them."[39][40] Before Nahoul's death, Assoud lived in Lebanon; he used the breach of the Gaza-Egypt border as an opportunity to return to his homeland of Palestine "in order to liberate it".[44][39] In episode 305, Assoud was seen dying in a Gaza hospital after being injured in an Israeli attack.[45] On his deathbed, he tells Palestinian children that they must fight and die to liberate Haifa, Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities.[46][47] Assoud hinted in episode 302 that he would be replaced by a tiger when he died.[48]
Nassur (February–October 2009)
Nassur (Arabic: نصور) is the fourth co-host of Tomorrow's Pioneers, introduced on 13 February 2009. He is a brown bear who claims to have come to the Gaza Strip to become one of the mujahideen and to defend the children of Palestine (although he gives evidence that he may have come from Iran).[49] As such, he vowed in his debut episode to wield a gun and perform jihad.[50] In episode 403, Nassur and Saraa accompany the children of Reem Riyashi, a suicide bomber who killed four Israelis at the Erez Crossing on 14 January 2004.[51][52]
Episodes
Due to political instability and regional conflict between Hamas and Fatah, the show has not maintained uninterrupted broadcasting. During the Battle of Gaza in June 2007, the Al-Aqsa TV station was taken over and shut down by Fatah gunmen.[53][54] In September 2008, Fatah began broadcasting a competing show targeting children on the official PA TV network.[33] Further complicating regular broadcast of Tomorrow's Pioneers were controversies surrounding the show itself, which led to Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti successfully lobbying to have the show shut down, although this ban was later lifted.[55]Tomorrow's Pioneers was rebooted in the early 2010s, and its final episode aired on 22 July 2022.[56]
Season 1 (April–June 2007)
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Original release date
101
1
"Farfour Is Caught Speaking English"
13April2007(2007-04-13)
Farfour and Saraa discuss martyrdom and the reclamation of Al-Aqsa with Sanabel, a call-in guest. Saraa then discusses the goals of fasting, praying, reciting the Quran, and studying and speaking in classical Arabic. Farfour is later caught speaking English by Uncle Hazim and is chastised. Saraa explains to Farfour that he must have pride in his Arabic language and that the Muslim culture is a dominant force in the world. Saraa adds that the show, whose audience Farfour refers to as "tomorrow's pioneers", shall act as a "nucleus" for the reunification of Gaza, Jerusalem, and Ramallah into one Palestine. Uncle Hazim clarifies that Iraqi women and children have been slaughtered, similar to those in Palestine. Saraa acknowledges that she had seen the news the day prior, which featured a dead fetus and its mother, and that it was very moving. Uncle Hazim goes on, stating that the murders persist in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine, and that they have also occurred in Lebanon.[22][24]
102
2
"Farfour Vs. Bush, Olmert, & Condoleeza"
20April2007(2007-04-20)
Farfour reacts negatively to a song sung by a call-in guest, Esraa (12). Esraa used the word "surrender" in her song and Saraa explains that they don't want to surrender, they want to win. Farfour agrees, telling various American and Israeli politicians, such as George W. Bush, Ehud Olmert, and Condoleezza Rice, that "we will win!"[3][24][57]
103
3
"Farfour and the AK-47"
27April2007(2007-04-27)
During a song about "answering" the Gaza Strip town of Rafah with AK-47s sung by a call-in guest, Harwa (11), Farfour enacts the song in pantomime. Later, a second call-in guest, Muhammad (12) sings "Oh Jerusalem, it is the time of death". Saraa also tells Farfour the importance of memorising the entire Quran.[26][24]
104
4
"Farfour Is Caught Cheating"
11May2007(2007-05-11)
Farfour prepares for and takes his year-end examinations. He cheats by using a cheat sheet during the test and when questioned by Uncle Hazim, he excuses his actions due to the fact that the Jews bombed his home, and he was forced to leave his school supplies behind. He soon learns cheating is forbidden and fails the test. Afterwards, Uncle Hazim tells Farfour that he should strive to be like scientists and academics like Jābir ibn Hayyān, and he tells the audience to continue studying, despite the Jews preventing them from doing so. Uncle Hazim then explains to the audience that Islam has provided security for the world. He tells the audience to ask the Jews about Al-Andalus, and to ask the Christians how they remain secure in their buildings of worship.[23][24]
105
5
"Farfour and the Jew"
22June2007(2007-06-22)
Farfour's grandfather explains to Farfour the history of Tel Aviv, the Jewish name for the land that was originally called Tel Al-Rabi. The Jews renamed the city after the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. Farfour's grandfather gives him the key and documents to the land and then he dies, to which Farfour expresses anxiety and concern over his ability to liberate his homeland. Farfour is then taken to an interrogation room where he is beaten to death by an actor posing as an Israeli official trying to buy Farfour's land because Farfour had called him a terrorist. The episode has what seems to be an editorial mistake as a brief flash of a "Farfour in prison" sign is shown immediately prior to Saraa confirming that Farfour was martyred while defending his land.[27][58]
Season 2 (July 2007 – February 2008)
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Original release date
201
6
"Saraa and The Hadith"
6July2007(2007-07-06)
Shahad (9), a call-in guest shares a quotation from the Hadith: "The Prophet said: The Hour will not take place until you fight the Jews... and the rock and the tree will say: Oh, Muslim, servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and fight him!"[58][59]
202
7
"Nahoul Descends"
13July2007(2007-07-13)
Nahoul, the bumblebee cousin of the deceased mouse Farfour, pledges to continue on the path of Islam, referencing martyrdom and the mujahideen in the process. He also explains his intentions to liberate Al-Aqsa from the impurity of the enemies of Allah.[34][58]
203
8
"Nahoul's Rant"
20July2007(2007-07-20)
Like in the previous episode, Nahoul tells the audience to liberate Al-Aqsa from the Jews. Sabah (13), a call-in guest, shares aspirations to become a journalist to which Nahoul assumes Sabah would have photographed the Jews when they killed Farfour. Later, Izz Al-Din from Ramallah calls in and Nahoul assures that him and the audience will go on jihad when they grow up.[36][58]
204
9
"Nahoul's Big Day Out"
10August2007(2007-08-10)
Nahoul and Saraa discuss the occupation of Al-Aqsa. Nahoul suggests that Al-Aqsa is very sad, since it is being besieged by child murderers, whom he identifies as the Zionists. Nahoul then instructs the audience how to get ahold of the key to Al-Aqsa, which is achieved through morning prayer, blood, sacrifice, pain, martyrs, and endurance. Saraa then suggests they examine what Nahoul has been doing recently, emphasising a visit to the Gaza Zoo where he abused animals to entertain a group of children[60] – connected to a story from the Hadith in which a woman was sent to Hell because she locked up a cat until it died of starvation.[38][61]
205
10
"Nahoul & Saraa's Feast of the Sacrifice Extravaganza"
21December2007(2007-12-21)
It is The Feast of the Sacrifice and Saraa specially sings for the audience and an Al-Aqsa news reporter a version of the song originally sung by Harwa in episode 103 about liberating Palestine from Tiberias to Anaba. Saraa has backup vocals from a male choir. Saraa sings that they liberated Gaza City, not by the Oslo Accords or Oslo II Accord, but by force. She continues that "Rafah sings, and the Kalashnikov replies." The song ends with Saraa singing "the first stone [of the intifada] where we celebrated our victory – raise your sail for the sailors your lighthouse illuminates the sea of blood." When the song is finished she joins Nahoul, who is outside with a necktie and a party hat on. Saraa asks Nahoul if he would like to give holiday greetings for the Feast of the Sacrifice, but Nahoul laments that he has next to no family to convey greetings to, since his two brothers and his aunt were martyred in the First Intifada, Second Intifada, and the Battle of Jenin, respectively. Furthermore, he states that his mother suffers from diabetes, and his father suffers from hepatitis C. Hadil, a call-in guest, discusses the sacrifice of a calf that their family made and then Yaquin (13), from Gaza calls in and Nahoul laughs at her, unable to remember her name. Nahoul's voice is considerably lower-pitched in this episode.[62]
206
11
"Assoud Arrives"
1February2008(2008-02-01)
Nahoul is deathly ill. His parents explain that they tried to bring him "to Al-Arish, but we couldn't get [Nahoul] to Egypt to have an operation." They then cry that "all the children of Palestine are dying without treatment." After Nahoul dies, the audience is introduced to his brother, a rabbit named Assoud. When Assoud asks where Nahoul is, the parents at first pretend that he has gone on a walk at night and will be back shortly, but then they finally tell Assoud that "your brother Nahoul died a martyr's death." Assoud is heartbroken and determines to take up Nahoul's path just as Nahoul had taken up Farfour's. Travelling to Al-Aqsa TV headquarters, Assoud declares to the audience that "I come from the diaspora carrying the Key of Return. Allah willing, we will use this key to liberate our Al-Aqsa." Saraa greets Assoud and explains to the audience that he will now be the new co-host. Assoud asks Saraa "we are all martyrdom-seekers are we not, Saraa?" and Saraa replies "Of course we are," to which Assoud responds "we will liberate Al-Aqsa from the filth of those Zionists." Assoud introduces the concept that the viewers compose the "soldiers of the Pioneers of Tomorrow" and the show ends with Assoud's famous declaration: "I, Assoud, will get rid of the Jews, Allah willing, and I will eat them up, Allah willing, right?" to which Saraa optimistically replies "Allah willing."[40][4]
Season 3 (February 2008 – January 2009)
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Original release date
301
12
"Assoud's Tale"
8February2008(2008-02-08)
Assoud the rabbit says he sneaked in from Egypt when the Gaza fence was breached. He and Saraa discuss retaking Tel Aviv, which they say was originally Tel-Rabia.[39] The show ended with a song that promised the liberation of Palestine from the Zionists.
302
13
"Assoud Vs. Denmark"
15February2008(2008-02-15)
Assoud rails against the DanishJyllands-Posten cartoonists responsible for the Muhammad cartoons following their reprinting. He and Saraa discuss redeeming Muhammad with Amani, a call-in guest, and they warn the cartoonists that Allah will punish them for mocking the prophet. Saraa instructs Amani to boycott Danish products, as well as Israeli products.[4][48]
303
14
"Assoud's History Lesson"
9May2008(2008-05-09)
Assoud visits his surviving grandfather (the first having been killed in episode 105) who explains to Assoud the history of the cities in Palestine. In answer to Assoud's questions about where the family had originally lived, Assoud's grandfather tells Assoud that they lived in Tel Al-Rabi'. Assoud tells him that Tel Al-Rabi does not exist, inquiring if he has "gone senile", to which Assoud's grandfather denies. He explains that Tel Al-Rabi was Hebraicised to Tel Aviv. He goes on to say that Tel Al-Rabi belongs to Palestine, offering papers, documents, and land deeds as proof. He also states that 'Ashdod' is actually Isdud, 'Ashkelon' is Al-Majdal, and Al-Sab' had been renamed to 'Beer Sheva', among other name changes. He concludes that the names are all pseudonyms, which prompts Assoud to apologise that "it's the fault of the school curricula."[63]
304
15
"Assoud Steals"
11July2008(2008-07-11)
Assoud is tempted to steal some money from his father, but is smitten with conscience. Shaitan then arrives and promises Assoud that no one will know about the theft. Assoud relents and takes two bills despite Shaitan's recommendation to take three. Later, a call-in guest chides Assoud for his theft, explaining that his actions had worsened the relationship between his parents. The guest goes on to explain that stealing leads to Hell, and then quotes the prophet Muhammad in the Quran as having stated that if his daughter, Fatimah, had stolen something, he would have chopped off her hand. Assoud is told that his hand would get chopped off if he lived in Saudi Arabia. Saraa takes notes and discusses Assoud's punishment with call-in guests, Asmaa and Nur, who in deference to the Quran agree that Assoud's hand should be cut off. Assoud begs for mercy. On Assoud's request for clarification, Nur opines that if Saraa were to steal her hand should not be cut off, that he never stole so much as a shekel even as a child, and that if Assoud has repented and promised never to do it again then his hand should remain attached. Saraa offers that his ear be chopped off instead as a compromise. Assoud again begs for mercy as Saraa smiles at the camera.[64]
305
16
"Assoud is Martyred"
2January2009(2009-01-02)
Assoud is gravely injured during Israeli attacks on Gaza during the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict. He succumbs to his injuries and dies some time later in the hospital.
Season 4 (February–October 2009)
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Original release date
401
17
"Nassur Visits the Gaza Strip"
13February2009(2009-02-13)
Nassur has arrived in the Gaza Strip just in time to become Saraa's new co-host. In his debut episode, Nassur shares with the audience his reasons for coming. These reasons include becoming one of the mujahideen, becoming a member of the 'Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, performing jihad, and carrying a gun in order to defend the Palestinian youths.[49]
402
18
"Saraa's Song"
20March2009(2009-03-20)
Tomorrow's Pioneers has broadcast Saraa's first music video as the central focus of one episode. In this video, Saraa sings about the Hamas youth movement, its presence in the schools, and of the division between Israel and Palestine. The video also features footage of children throwing fanciful darts at a Star of David as they sing that "death is honor and victory."[19]
403
19
"Nassur and the Children of Reem Riyashi"
3July2009(2009-07-03)
Nassur and Saraa spend the day with the children of Palestinian suicide-bomber, Reem Riyashi, who is described as a shahid. The hosts have created a music video re-enacting Riyashi's preparation for martyrdom that they display for the children in an attempt to explain her patriotism. The episode ends with Riyashi's eldest daughter vowing to become a jihadi martyr when she grows up, and then Saraa delivers a stern warning addressed to the occupier that the people of Palestine will follow Riyashi's example until their homeland is liberated.[51]
404
20
"Nassur and the Expulsion of the Jews"
22September2009(2009-09-22)
Nassur and Saraa have a disagreement about what the expulsion of the Jews means. Saraa believes in a more peaceful approach, as they should be "chased away" and that nothing should be done to them in the process. Nassur, on the other hand, endorses the view that they should be slaughtered. Saraa eventually concedes, and the two compromise that "we will expel them from our land using all means, and if they don't want to go peacefully, by words or talking, we'll have to do it by slaughter." Nassur goes on to explain his plan that after the expulsion, Jerusalem will become a new Qaaba-like point of pilgrimage for Muslims.[65]
405
21
"Saraa and the Language of the Enemy"
16October2009(2009-10-16)
Nassur and Saraa discuss with a call-in guest the merits of learning English and Hebrew. Saraa explains that knowing their enemies' languages is important in order to establish contact with them. Nassur also reveals that he knows Hebrew.[66]
Reception
The show, brought to Western attention by pro-Israel organizations such as Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) and the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), supposedly deals with Islamic traditions and lifestyles, some as innocuous as the importance of drinking milk, and Muslim customs such as performing one's daily prayers, but also advocates messages of Islamism such as "resistance jihad", anti-zionism, and opposition to capitalism, the United States, and the Western world.[3] Criticisms concerning the content and methods employed in the broadcast of Tomorrow's Pioneers have come from a variety of sources; watchdog groups have described the show as "anti-Israeli", and PMW has commented on the show's "champion[ing of] violence, promot[ion of] hatred of Israel and preach[ing] about world Islamic supremacy."[4] Within the Arabic community, critics have suggested that the show has potential to introduce bias in children at an age when they are unable to properly differentiate between political viewpoints.[67] Professor Mia Bloom, who specialises in Islamic studies, described the show as a "constant stream of propaganda" and compared the values taught to the practises used by the Taliban and Islamic State,[68] while harsher Arabic and Palestinian critics have suggested that the show is nothing short of an indoctrination attempt aimed at children.[69]
On the other hand, defenders of the show have suggested that the show's notoriety stands as yet more proof of the political motivations behind the anti-Arabist and Islamophobic subjection of Palestinians to the strictest scrutiny and subsequent generalizations of Arabs to support an improper negative stereotype. The argument has been advanced that "Israel is following all the Palestinians, large and small, and placing them under a microscope with a predefined concept of culture, media and religion. It only wants to catch up [Palestinians] and accuse them on themes of terrorism."[5] Criticism of the show has been regarded as criticism of Islam as a religion.[70] While the Israeli Institute for Palestinian Media Monitoring has characterised the show's messages as "hostile", Israeli affairs expert Saleh Al-Naami claims that "talking about the liberation of prisoners is a just demand guaranteed by international laws and regulations, while talking about the love of the land and homeland is normal."[5]
Furthermore, proponents of the show claim that Saraa Barhoum is only an "innocent girl [...] incapable of incitement."[71] It has also been suggested by a variety of sources that, holding judgment aside, the show's content is simply reflective of the realities of life in the occupied territory.[72][71] Relatedly, it is argued that Zionist critics in particular are disturbed by the fact that the show provides "Arab and Muslim children [with] the opportunity to participate in [a public forum context] to freely express their real feelings [regarding life in] Palestine."[71] Defenders of the show have argued that the reason for the harsh criticism the show has received is that unlike many Arabic television stations Al-Aqsa TV reflects a view of Palestinian thought unfettered by Western mores.[73] The timing of certain critical publications has also been considered provocative.[71]
Removal by the Palestinian Ministry
After attracting international attention for its use of the Mickey Mouse-lookalike, Farfour, Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti stated the use of the character was a "mistaken approach" and the program was pulled from Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV and placed under review at his ministry's request.[55] Al-Aqsa TV board chairman Fathi Hamad replied that the station would neither pull the program, nor change the subject matter. He stated that "[t]his campaign of criticism is part of a plan orchestrated by the West and the occupying power to attack Islam on the one hand and the Palestinian cause on the other."[74][75] An Al-Aqsa TV representative responded to Barghouti's statements, saying that the station will continue to air the show and that "Barghouti misunderstood the issue."[72] In a later interview with Al-Aqsa TV, Hamad explained that "the vicious campaign that is being waged by the enemies, and especially the Zionist enemy and American imperialism, is not new. It comes from the framework of the vicious campaign against our Palestinian people as an addition to the siege placed on our people. Therefore, we are not surprised by this. They want the Palestinian people to renounce [their] Islamic religion and belief. In response, we say that whenever our Palestinian people resorted to its religion, Allah supported it. Therefore, we will not renounce our faith and our belief, and we will move forward for the sake of Allah. We are holding to this religion because it is the secret of our victory. They try, as much as they can... Not just by waging their attack on the religion in this context, in order to prevent the Islamic upbringing of Palestinian children, but they also want this people to renounce all its Islamic foundation. They are the ones who called to remove the Jihad verses that appear in the Palestinian school curricula. Therefore, we cannot accept this."[76]
Response from the United States
On 1 April 2008, Rep. Joseph Crowley submitted House Resolution No. 1069 in the United States House of Representatives, a resolution "[c]ondemning the use of television programming by Hamas to indoctrinate hatred, violence, and anti-Semitism toward Israel in young Palestinian children."[77][78] The resolution discussed Tomorrow's Pioneers by name, and demanded that Hamas immediately stop all shows containing anti-Israeli messages.[79]
Phil Hall of Film Threat called the series "a non-stop assault on good taste and intelligence", criticising the cheap production values and anti-Semitic remarks from the characters,[80] while The Jerusalem Post commented that the character Farfour was "far from lovable" as he was used to preach violence to children.[81] The series was featured in a segment on a 2007 episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.[82]
Translation controversy
Several commentators, such as CNN's Arabic department, have claimed that the transcript of the April 13 show (2007) provided by MEMRI contains numerous translation errors and undue emphases.[83]Brian Whitaker, the Middle East editor for British newspaper The Guardian, wrote in a blog for the newspaper that in the translation of the video, showing Farfour eliciting political comments from a young girl named Sanabel, the MEMRI transcript misrepresents the segment where he asks what she will do, by attributing a sentence said by Farfour, "I'll shoot", to the child while ignoring Sanabel's actual reply ("I'm going to draw a picture").[83][84] Whitaker further criticised MEMRI's translation. He and others commented that a statement uttered by the same child, "We're going to [or want to] resist", had been given an unduly aggressive interpretation by MEMRI as "We want to fight". Also, where MEMRI translated the girl as saying "We will annihilate the Jews", Whitaker, along with Arabic speakers used by CNN, insisted that the girl is variously interpreted as saying, "The Jews [will] shoot us"[83] or "The Jews are killing us."[85] Other sources have also pointed out that MEMRI's translation "I will commit martyrdom" should more accurately have been "I'll become a martyr", a more passive statement.[86] Conservative television host Glenn Beck had planned to run MEMRI's translation on his radio programme but was stopped by his producer. Beck then invited Yigal Carmon, a former colonel of IDF Intelligence and founder and President of MEMRI, onto the programme where Carmon denounced CNN's Arabic translation[83] and defended MEMRI's translation of the show, declaring "Yes, we stand by the translation by the very words, by the context, by the syntax, and every measure of the translation."[85]
↑ Namous, Fekry. "موقع الشاعر فكرى ناموس"[Poet Fikry Namous's website]. Fekry-Namous.com (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
↑ Al-Din, Bahaa (11 May 2007). "عندما ترعب 'دمية' و'طفلة' كيانا 'جيشه لا يقهر'"[When a 'doll" and a 'child' terrorize an entity whose 'army is invincible']. Palestine Direct (in Arabic). Retrieved 20 November 2008.
↑ "House Resolution 1069". opencongress.org. 1 April 2008. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012 – via H.RES 1069 IH. 110th Congress, 2d Session.
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