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Tomorrow's Pioneers

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Tomorrow's Pioneers
A giant costumed character with a strong resemblance to Mickey Mouse pointing to the right of the screen with both hands
Farfour the Mouse, co-host of the first season, mimicking an AK-47 being fired
Arabicرواد الغد
Created byHazim Al-Sha'arawi
Directed by
Starring
  • Hazim Al-Sha'arawi
  • Saraa Barhoum
  • Mohammed Alareer
Country of originPalestine
Original languageArabic
Production
EditorHazim Al-Sha'arawi
Original release
NetworkAl-Aqsa TV
Release13 April 2007 (2007-04-13) –
22 July 2022 (2022-07-22)

Tomorrow's Pioneers[a] is a Palestinian children's television show that was broadcast by the Hamas-affiliated television station Al-Aqsa TV from 13 April 2007 to 22 July 2022. Created and edited by Hazim Al-Sha'arawi and directed by Fathi Hamad and Samir Abu Muhssen, the show was hosted by Saraa Barhoum, later by a presenter named Maryam, alongside a succession of large costumed characters, who performed skits and discussed life in Palestine in a talk show fashion with call-ins from young children. Presented in a children's educational format similar to shows like Sesame Street and Barney & Friends, Tomorrow's Pioneers teaches Islamic morals and values, periodically quoting the Quran. According to Palestinian Media Watch and a 2010 statement by Anti-Defamation League Deputy National Director Kenneth Jacobson, the show also contains antisemitic, anti-American, and other anti-Western themes.[1][2] Others have regarded the show as a reflection of the realities of life in the occupied territory.

Tomorrow's Pioneers also gained attention from Disney, which later requested that the first co-host, Farfour, be written out of the show due to his strong resemblance to Mickey Mouse.[3] Farfour was killed in what the show referred to as a martyrdom, and he was succeeded by a giant bumblebee named Nahoul, who served as the show's second co-host until he was replaced by Assoud the rabbit, who was further substituted by Nassur the bear. Nahoul came back in 2013 episodes of the show.

Following Farfour's success, Tomorrow's Pioneers was pulled from Al-Aqsa TV and placed under review at the request of Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti's ministry, and in 2008, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed House Resolution 1069, which discussed Tomorrow's Pioneers by name, and demanded that Hamas immediately stop all shows containing anti-Israeli messages and accept all previously established peace agreements with Israel.[4]

The show's English translation, provided by MEMRI, attracted the attention of commentators, including the CNN Arabic department and Brian Whitaker of The Guardian, who noted that the translation contained multiple errors, undue emphases, and possible bias. In response, MEMRI president Yigal Carmon was invited onto political commentator Glenn Beck's programme, where Carmon defended the accuracy of MEMRI's translation.

Background

In Palestine, Hamas considers media a "decisive weapon"[5] that effectively spreads information in support of the organisation and its ideologies via newspapers, leaflets, websites, television, radio, affiliated mosques, and supporting vocal groups.[6] On 9 January 2006, after Hamas won the Palestinian legislative election, the organisation launched its own channel, Al-Aqsa TV,[7] which was licensed by the Palestinian Authority.[8] The children's shows broadcast on Al-Aqsa TV, such as Tomorrow's Pioneers, spread Hamas's ideologies, which, according to a 2010 statement by Anti-Defamation League Deputy National Director Kenneth Jacobson, include antisemitism and anti-Western sentiment.[1]

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 front of a pastel background, similar to children's shows like Sesame Street and Barney & Friends,[9] with call-ins from children, who occasionally sang their own songs.[10] According to Al-Aqsa TV, the target audience for the show was "three to seven years old".[11] Tomorrow's Pioneers periodically quotes the Quran,[12] and teaches children Islamic traditions and customs such as performing one's daily prayers, as well as healthy habits like the importance of drinking milk,[13] but it also advocates messages such as jihad, anti-Zionism, and opposition to the United States and the Western world.[14][1] The show was directed by Fathi Hamad and Samir Abu Muhssen, and was created and edited by Hazim Al-Sha'arawi,[15][16] who also moderated an earlier Hamas-broadcast radio programme called Afnan and Aghsan.[b][17]

Broadcast history

Tomorrow's Pioneers was first broadcast on 13 April 2007,[18] and its final episode aired on 22 July 2022.[19] Episodes were intended to be aired on Fridays at 9 am ET,[20] but due to political instability and the regional conflict between Hamas and Fatah, the show did not maintain uninterrupted broadcasting. During the Battle of Gaza in June 2007, the Al-Aqsa TV station was taken over and shut down by Fatah gunmen.[21][22] In September 2008, Fatah began broadcasting a competing show targeting children on the official Palestinian Authority TV network.[23]

After the character Farfour attracted international attention due to his strong resemblance to Mickey Mouse, Mustafa Barghouti, former Palestinian Information Minister, stated the use of the character was a "mistaken approach" and Tomorrow's Pioneers was pulled from Al-Aqsa TV and placed under review at his ministry's request.[24] In response, Al-Aqsa TV board chairman Fathi Hamad said that the show did not violate any ethical standards,[25] adding that the criticism was designed by western and occupying powers to oppose Islam and the Palestinian cause.[26] An Al-Aqsa TV representative responded to Barghouti's statements, adding that "Barghouti misunderstood the issue."[20] In a later interview with Al-Aqsa TV, Hamad said that the Jews want the people of Palestine to renounce their religion, since he believes Islam is the key to their success.[27]

Characters

Five large costumed characters. From left to right, a black-and-white mouse wearing a matching tuxedo and red bowtie, two bumblebees, a smiling pink-and-white rabbit with whiskers, and a brown bear with human hands and a black, triangular nose.
The mascots that are seen in Tomorrow's Pioneers. From left to right: Farfour, Nahoul, the resurrected version of Nahoul, Assoud, and Nassur.

Saraa Barhoum

Saraa Barhoum,[c] who hosted Tomorrow's Pioneers,[28] was around 10–11 years old when the show started.[29] Saraa's uncle, Fawzi Barhoum [ar], was a Hamas spokesman.[30] In an August 2007 interview, Saraa said she wanted to be a medical practitioner, and if not that, then a martyr.[29] Saraa is not present after the original run of the show; instead, a new host named Maryam[d] takes her place.[31]

Farfour

Farfour,[e] a mouse whose design resembles Mickey Mouse,[32] was a costumed character with a high-pitched voice who co-hosted Tomorrow's Pioneers with Saraa.[9][33] On the show, Farfour had expressed pro-Islamist views, stating that the two of them "are laying the foundation for a world led by Islamists" and they "will return the Islamic community to its former greatness" by liberating Jerusalem and Iraq, among other locations.[32] In another episode, he simulated shooting an AK-47.[10] In his final appearance, Farfour was beaten to death during an interrogation by an Israeli official, who was trying to buy Farfour's land.[34] The story arc in which Farfour was killed off was created by Al-Sha'arawi.[30]

Nahoul

Nahoul[f] was a bumblebee character with a high-pitched voice who co-hosted Tomorrow's Pioneers with Saraa following Farfour's death, which was referred to in the show as a martyrdom.[34] When introduced, he promised to continue in the path of martyrdom.[35] According to the Routledge Handbook of Political Islam, edited by Shahram Akbarzadeh, the choice to make Nahoul a bee was an intentional reference to the 16th chapter of the Quran, An-Nahl, which translates to "The Bee" in English.[36]

PETA criticised a segment featuring Nahoul at the zoo, arguing that despite the show's intent to teach children not to abuse animals by showing bad behaviour, children would likely mimic the actions.[37] In February 2008, it was revealed that Nahoul was very sick and in need of an operation. Nahoul and his parents sought to travel to Al-Arish, Egypt, for medical treatment, but Israeli authorities denied them permission to leave Gaza. He died and was replaced by Assoud, a rabbit.[8][38]

Nahoul reappeared in late 2013,[31] telling children that if they encountered Jews they should stone or beat them until their faces "turn red as a tomato".[39] In another episode, Maryam explained 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 said that she chose the path of resistance.[31] On 28 July 2014, the actor who played Nahoul and Karkour the chicken,[g] Mohammed Alareer, was killed by Israeli missiles.[40]

Assoud

Assoud[h] was a rabbit introduced after the previous co-host, Nahoul, died of illness. In explaining why he is called Assoud, when Arnoub[i] 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".[38] Assoud was later killed in an airstrike.[8]

Nassur

Nassur[j] was the fourth co-host of Tomorrow's Pioneers, introduced on 13 February 2009.[41] He was a brown bear who claims to have come to the Gaza Strip to join the military wing of Hamas, al-Qassam Brigades, thereby becoming one of the mujahideen.[42] Nassur and Saraa later welcomed the children of Reem Riyashi,[12] a suicide bomber who killed four Israelis at the Erez Crossing on 14 January 2004, onto the studio.[43] The children and the two hosts then watch a music video re-enacting the events leading up to the 2004 Erez Crossing bombing.[44] In a later episode, Nassur claimed to know Hebrew, but when Saraa told him to speak the language, he denied it.[45] Unlike the previous three co-hosts, Nassur survived the end of the original run.[8][12]

List of episodes

No.TitleDirected byOriginal release date
1"Farfour Is Caught Speaking English"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
13 April 2007 (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.
2"Farfour Vs. Bush, Olmert, & Condoleeza"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
20 April 2007 (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"Farfour and the AK-47"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
27 April 2007 (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.
4"Farfour Is Caught Cheating"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
11 May 2007 (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.
5"Farfour and the Jew"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
22 June 2007 (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.
6"Saraa and The Hadith"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
6 July 2007 (2007-07-06)
Shahad (9), a call-in guest, shares a quotation from the Hadith, in which Muhammad, the Prophet and founder of Islam, said that Resurrection will not occur until the Jews are fought.[46]
7"Nahoul Descends"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
13 July 2007 (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 enemies of Allah.
8"Nahoul's Rant"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
20 July 2007 (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.
9"Nahoul's Big Day Out"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
10 August 2007 (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 – 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.[47]
10"Nahoul & Saraa's Feast of the Sacrifice Extravaganza"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
21 December 2007 (2007-12-21)
It is Eid al-Adha 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. The song ends with Saraa singing about the Palestinian victory during the intifada, and she joins Nahoul, who is outside wearing a necktie and a party hat. Saraa asks Nahoul if he would like to give holiday greetings for Eid al-Adha, 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. 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.
11"Assoud Arrives"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
1 February 2008 (2008-02-01)
Nahoul is deathly ill. His parents tried to bring him to Al-Arish, but they were denied from leaving Palestine by Israeli officials. 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 Nahoul was martyred. Assoud is heartbroken and is determined to take up Nahoul's path just as Nahoul had taken up Farfour's. Travelling to Al-Aqsa TV headquarters, Assoud tells the audience that he is from the Palestinian diaspora carrying the "Key of Return", which he plans to free Al-Aqsa with. Saraa greets Assoud and explains to the audience that he will now be the new co-host. Assoud asks Saraa if they seek martyrdom, to which Saraa agrees. Assoud restates that the viewers comprise the pioneers of tomorrow, and the show ends with him declaring that he will eat the Jews in the name of Allah.
12"Assoud's Tale"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
8 February 2008 (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. The show ended with a song that promised the liberation of Palestine from the Zionists.
13"Assoud Vs. Denmark"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
15 February 2008 (2008-02-15)
Assoud rails against the Danish Jyllands-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 and Israeli products.
14"Assoud's History Lesson"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
9 May 2008 (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 and inquires if he is 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 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.
15"Assoud Steals"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
11 July 2008 (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 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 also 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, and Assoud again begs for mercy as she smiles at the camera.
16"Assoud is Martyred"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
2 January 2009 (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.
17"Nassur Visits the Gaza Strip"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
13 February 2009 (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.
18"Saraa's Song"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
20 March 2009 (2009-03-20)
Tomorrow's Pioneers has shown Saraa's first music video, "Educate the Children",[k] as the central focus of this 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 about the honor of death.
19"Nassur and the Children of Reem Riyashi"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
3 July 2009 (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.
20"Nassur and the Expulsion of the Jews"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
22 September 2009 (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.
21"Saraa and the Language of the Enemy"
  • Fathi Hamad
  • Samir Abu Muhssen
16 October 2009 (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 claims to know Hebrew.

Reception

Proponents of the show, including Al-Watan Voice writer Imad Afana, believe that Saraa Barhoum was "incapable of incitement" due to her young age at the time,[48] and it has also been suggested by Barghouti and Afana that, holding judgment aside, the show's content is simply reflective of the realities of life in the occupied territory.[20][48] 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.[49] Hamad said that Tomorrow's Pioneers was "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."[50]

Criticisms concerning the content and methods employed in Tomorrow's Pioneers have come from a variety of sources and communities; Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook, writing for Palestinian Media Watch, commented on the show's "champion[ing of] violence", describing its messages as "anti-Israeli" and "hostile".[2][15] Within the Arabic community, critics and psychologists 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.[51][32] Professor Mia Bloom and psychologist John Horgan, who wrote Small Arms: Children and Terrorism, said that Farfour tells the young audience that "the ultimate goal is to be a shahid",[52] and Arabic and Palestinian critics have suggested that the show is nothing short of an indoctrination attempt aimed at children.[53]

Response from the United States

In 2008, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs unanimously passed House Resolution 1069, which was described as "condemning Middle East media that incites violence against Americans and the United States and our ally Israel", specifically targeting al-Aqsa TV for "promoting anti-Semitism and terrorism aimed at Americans and Israelis" and calling on the administration to designate the station as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity.[54] The resolution discussed Tomorrow's Pioneers by name, and demanded that Hamas immediately stop all shows containing anti-Israeli messages and accept all previously established peace agreements with Israel.[4]

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".[55] 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",[56] and she requested that Farfour be written out of the show.[3]

MEMRI translation

Commentators such as Brian Whitaker, the Middle East editor for British newspaper The Guardian; and CNN's Arabic department have noted that the transcript of Tomorrow's Pioneers provided by MEMRI contains numerous translation errors and undue emphases.[57] Whitaker 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",[58] to Sanabel while ignoring her actual reply, "I'm going to draw a picture".[57][59]

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",[57] had been interpreted by MEMRI as "We want to fight".[58] Also, where MEMRI translated the girl as saying "We will annihilate the Jews",[58] Whitaker, along with Arabic speakers used by CNN, insisted that the girl is variously interpreted as saying, "The Jews [will] shoot us"[57] or "The Jews are killing us."[60] 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 and defended the context and syntax of MEMRI's translation of the show.[57][60]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Arabic: رواد الغد, romanized: Ruwād al-Ghad, also known as The Pioneers of Tomorrow
  2. ↑ Arabic: أفنان وأغصان, lit. 'Branches and Twigs'
  3. ↑ Arabic: سرّاء برهوم
  4. ↑ Arabic: مريم; also rendered as Mariam
  5. ↑ Arabic: فرفور; also rendered as Farfur
  6. ↑ Arabic: نحول; also rendered as Nahul or Nahool
  7. ↑ Arabic: كركور
  8. ↑ Arabic: أسّود, lit. 'lion'; also rendered as Assud
  9. ↑ Arabic: أرنب, lit. 'rabbit'
  10. ↑ Arabic: نصور
  11. ↑ Arabic: علم الأولاد

References

  1. 1 2 3 United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs. Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight (2010). Combating Anti-Semitism. United States Government Printing Office. pp. 39–40. ISBN 978-0-16-085935-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 "PMW Transcripts 'Hamas rabbit to children: 'I'll finish off the Jews and eat them!' and 'Hamas Kids TV: Don't eat Danish food – eat the Danes'". Palestinian Media Watch. Archived from the original on 11 March 2008.
  3. 1 2 Musa, Imad (4 July 2007). "فرفور شهيداً!" [Farfour is a martyr!]. NOW Lebanon (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 26 July 2011.
  4. 1 2 "House Resolution 1069". United States Congress. 1 April 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2026 – via H.RES 1069 IH. 110th Congress, 2d Session.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ Abdelal 2016, p. 57.
  6. ↑ Gleis & Berti 2012, pp. 168–170.
  7. ↑ "Hamas TV station shut down". News24. 22 January 2006. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Sankey 2018, p. 216.
  9. 1 2 Pieslak 2015, p. 129.
  10. 1 2 Back & Bull 2020, p. 394.
  11. ↑ Jarosz & Kącka 2018, p. 106.
  12. 1 2 3 Parker 2019, p. 178.
  13. ↑ "فرفور حماس يُغضب الولايات المتحدة ، والصهيونية العالمية ..!!" [Farfour Hamas angers the United States and global Zionism..!!]. Mareb Press. 16 November 2007. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "PMW Transcripts 'Hamas Mouse: Blame the Jews' and 'Hamas steals Mickey Mouse image to teach hate and Islamic supremacy'". Palestinian Media Watch. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  15. 1 2 Marcus, Itamar; Crook, Barbara (14 May 2007). "Hamas Mickey Mouse creator: Islamic rule will benefit Christians and Jews". Palestinian Media Watch. Archived from the original on 27 June 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  16. ↑ Odeh, Nour (21 July 2007). "Palestinian TV show creates buzz". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "برنامج عبر الأثير: أفنان وأغصان" [Over the Air Program: Afnan and Aghsan]. Al-Aqsa Voice (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  18. ↑ Konovalov 2025, pp. 208–209.
  19. ↑ "رواد الغد" [Tomorrow's Pioneers]. Seraj TV (in Arabic). 22 July 2022. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 Shubert, Atika (15 May 2007). "Hamas kids TV show with militant mouse to air Friday". CNN. Archived from the original on 12 May 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Al-Aqsa calls on members to 'fight coup'". Ynet. Archived from the original on 30 December 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  22. ↑ Lebhour, Karim. "Hamas-Fatah: Media war in Palestine". Internews Europe. Archived from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  23. ↑ Marcus, Itmar; Crook, Barbara (9 September 2008). "Mickey Mouse Again – Disney images adorn studio while mass murderer glorified". Palestinian Media Watch. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  24. ↑ "Hamas 'Mickey Mouse' pulled off air". NBC News. 9 May 2007. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2026 – via Associated Press.
  25. ↑ "إسرائيل تلاحق سارة وفرفور بقناة الأقصى بتهمة العنصرية" [Israel is pursuing Sarah and Farfour on Al-Aqsa TV on charges of racism]. Al Jazeera (in Arabic). 12 May 2007. Archived from the original on 6 January 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  26. ↑ "Hamas TV refuses to axe copycat Mickey Mouse". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "Hamas TV Insists on Continuing Inciting Children TV Show". MEMRI. 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2026 – via Al-Aqsa TV (Palestinian Authority).
  28. ↑ "Pictured: The TV rabbit preaching hatred and telling young Muslims to 'kill and eat Jews'". The Standard. 13 April 2012. Archived from the original on 6 August 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  29. 1 2 Nissenbaum, Dion (14 August 2007). "First, a militant mouse on Hamas show – now, an 11-year-old radical". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  30. 1 2 Erlanger, Steven (1 April 2008). "In Gaza, Hamas's Insults to Jews Complicate Peace". The New York Times. p. 3. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  31. 1 2 3 ""اسرائيل" تهاجم برنامجا تبثه فضائية الأقصى" [Israel attacks a program broadcast by Al-Aqsa TV]. Al Resalah (in Arabic). 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 5 September 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  32. 1 2 3 "Hamas 'Mickey Mouse' urges armed resistance". NBC News. Associated Press. 8 May 2007. Archived from the original on 27 June 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  33. ↑ Pieslak 2009, p. 69.
  34. 1 2 "Mickey Mouse double 'martyred' on Hamas TV". NBC News. The Associated Press. 29 June 2007. Archived from the original on 17 January 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  35. ↑ Hana Levi Julian (17 July 2007). "'Nahool' Teaches Palestinian Authority Children to Bee Bombers". Arutz Sheva. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  36. ↑ Karagiannis 2020.
  37. ↑ Deitch, Ian (16 August 2007). "Hamas TV show abuses cats, tells kids not to do it". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 8 June 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  38. 1 2 Nissan Ratzlav-Katz (12 February 2008). "PA TV Bunny Rabbit Threatens to Eat the Jews". Arutz Sheva. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  39. ↑ "Новые похождения Нахуля: ХАМАС учит детей убивать евреев" [Nahul's New Adventures: Hamas Teaches Children to Kill Jews]. NEWSru (in Russian). 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024.
  40. ↑ Abdel Aal, Ahmed (18 October 2014). "نحول.. فنان فلسطيني قتلته صواريخ إسرائيل" [Nahool, a Palestinian artist killed by Israeli missiles]. Al Jazeera (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 3 December 2023.
  41. ↑ "New Al-Aqsa TV Teddy Bear Nassur Vows to Join Military Wing of Hamas". MEMRI. 13 February 2009. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018 – via Al-Aqsa TV.
  42. ↑ Byman 2011, p. 347.
  43. ↑ Marcus, Itamar; Zilberdik, Nan Jacques (9 July 2009). "Hamas TV: Kids shown video of their mother's suicide bombing death". Palestinian Media Watch. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  44. ↑ "שידורי הקיץ של חמאס: שחזור מות האם המחבלת" [Hamas summer broadcasts: reconstructing the death of the terrorist mother]. Ynet (in Hebrew). 9 July 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  45. ↑ Marcus, Itamar; Zilberdik, Nan Jacques (18 October 2009). "English is the language of the enemy". Palestinian Media Watch. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  46. ↑ 2926
  47. ↑ 2365
  48. 1 2 Afana, Imad (12 May 2007). "إعلامنا الفلسطيني لماذا لا يتحول إلى فرافير كرمال عيون الأقصى !!" [Why doesn't our Palestinian media turn into a farce for the sake of Al-Aqsa?]. Al-Watan Voice (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  49. ↑ Emad Zaqout (3 July 2008). "قناة الأقصى في خطر !!!". PAL Times. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016.
  50. ↑ "رئيس شبكة الأقصى : لن نوقف بث برنامج رواد الغد و سياستنا واضحة في الدفاع عن قضيتنا" [Head of Al-Aqsa Network: We will not stop broadcasting the Pioneers of Tomorrow program, and our policy in defending our cause is clear]. Palestine Direct (in Arabic). 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 31 March 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  51. ↑ Nasser, Lugawiyan (14 May 2007). "فرفور يُطلُّ على أطفال فلسطين" [Farfour looks at the children of Palestine]. Haifa Lana (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 24 June 2007.
  52. ↑ Bloom & Horgan 2019, p. 122.
  53. ↑ "هل حفظنا أطفالنا في غزة من شر الروافض؟" [Did we save our children in Gaza from the evil of the Rafidis?]. Al-Bainah (in Arabic). Retrieved 5 August 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  54. ↑ Zanotti 2011, p. 57.
  55. ↑ "Disney explains reaction to Hamas use of Mickey Mouse image". USA Today. 21 May 2007. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  56. ↑ "Disney condemns Hamas Mickey Mouse". ITN. 9 May 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
  57. 1 2 3 4 5 Whitaker, Brian (15 May 2007). "Arabic under fire". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 August 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  58. 1 2 3 "A Mickey Mouse Character on Hamas TV Teaches Children about Islamic Rule of the World". MEMRI. 6 April 2007. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020.
  59. ↑ Baker, Mona (10 December 2010). "Narratives of terrorism and security: 'accurate' translations, suspicious frames". Critical Studies on Terrorism. 3 (3): 347–364. doi:10.1080/17539153.2010.521639.
  60. 1 2 "'Paula Zahn Now' TV show transcript". CNN transcripts. 8 May 2007. Archived from the original on 23 May 2007.

Bibliography

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