PA TV: All of Israel is "Palestine," during Barcelona team visit
PA TV presented all of Israel as "Palestine"
during Barcelona team visit
earlier this month
during Barcelona team visit
earlier this month
Netanyahu quoted PMW's report about it
in his letter to Kerry about PA on Aug. 10
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
In his letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited a recent example of Palestinian Authority incitement originally exposed by Palestinian Media Watch. Netanyahu quoted the words of a PA TV commentator who defined "Palestine" as spanning "from Eilat to Rosh HaNikra" - i.e., all of Israel from south to north.
This statement was broadcast on PA TV as part of a news report on the visit by the FC Barcelona football team to Hebron's Dura stadium. At the event, popular Palestinian singer Muhammad Assaf performed a song that misrepresented the Israeli cities of Safed, Acre, Haifa, and more as Palestinian cities. PM Netanyahu also objected to this as an example of PA incitement and an obstacle to peace in his letter to Kerry on Aug. 10.
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PA TV has broadcast different versions of this song denying Israel's existence numerous times. See other examples of the PA's policy to deny Israel's existence and its right to exist.
The following is an excerpt of the report on FC Barcelona's visit on official PA TV:
PA TV sports commentator:
"Today Barcelona came to us. Barcelona honored us without receiving anything in return, and it came to honor us at the Dura stadium [in Hebron] and in Palestine in its entirety... Barcelona wrote on its internet site: 'We will visit Palestine.' Palestine and no other. Only in Palestine. Palestine and its definite capital Jerusalem. From Eilat to Rosh HaNikra ( i.e., all of Israel, south to north), to the Negev, and to all the Palestinian cities in the north, south, west and east. "
Palestinian singer Muhammad Assaf at the event with FC Barcelona:"Come on, everyone sing together: Oh flying bird, circling around,
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 about its people's return.
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 about its people's return.
My country Palestine is beautiful."
[Official PA TV, Aug. 3, 2013]
Note: Safed, Tiberias, Acre, Haifa, Nazareth, and Beit Shean are all cities in Israel.
The Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Netanyahu's letter to Kerry on Aug. 10, 2013.