CNN News reports on Hamas’ hate-spewing Mickey Mouse, Farfur
CNN News reports on Hamas' version of Mickey Mouse Farfur, who preaches messages of hate to Palestinian children. Palestinian Media Watch’s exposure of the Hamas TV show's incitement to hatred captured international media attention. PMW founder and director Itamar Marcus appears on the program to discuss the dangers of teaching children to hate.
Reporter Atika Shubert: “Farfur looks like Mickey Mouse, but this Palestinian children’s character doesn’t talk like Mickey or sing like any mouseketeer. Farfur dances with an imaginary gun in his gloved hands as a young calling listener recites an ode to an AK-47.
This is Tomorrow’s Pioneers, a weekly children show on Al-Aqsa TV – the Hamas owned and operated television station in Gaza. And it’s been running now for three weeks.
Farfur and his human companion Saraa’ encourage Palestinian kids to drink milk and study hard, but also to engage in violent acts of resistance against Israel and the US. Farfur cheers for Islamic supremacy in a squeaky voice saying ‘We will win, Bush! We will win, Condoleeza!’ Militant propaganda is not new in this part of the world, but using an iconic cartoon character to appeal to children is.
Itamar Marcus: “Mickey Mouse is America. America is Mickey Mouse. And then you’re taking Mickey Mouse to laugh at the United States. It’s very, very significant. The danger is it’s the mixing of the poison with the drink milk. And the child doesn’t even realize that he’s being poisoned.”
Reporter Atika Shubert: “Farfur looks like Mickey Mouse, but this Palestinian children’s character doesn’t talk like Mickey or sing like any mouseketeer. Farfur dances with an imaginary gun in his gloved hands as a young calling listener recites an ode to an AK-47.
This is Tomorrow’s Pioneers, a weekly children show on Al-Aqsa TV – the Hamas owned and operated television station in Gaza. And it’s been running now for three weeks.
Farfur and his human companion Saraa’ encourage Palestinian kids to drink milk and study hard, but also to engage in violent acts of resistance against Israel and the US. Farfur cheers for Islamic supremacy in a squeaky voice saying ‘We will win, Bush! We will win, Condoleeza!’ Militant propaganda is not new in this part of the world, but using an iconic cartoon character to appeal to children is.
Itamar Marcus: “Mickey Mouse is America. America is Mickey Mouse. And then you’re taking Mickey Mouse to laugh at the United States. It’s very, very significant. The danger is it’s the mixing of the poison with the drink milk. And the child doesn’t even realize that he’s being poisoned.”
[CNN, May 8, 2007]