As the world commemorates International Holocaust Day today, Palestinian Media Watch documents that Palestinian Authority leaders are still spreading antisemitic hatred. These hate messages are also directed at Palestinian children, and thus passed on to the next generation. While the world is busy discussing ways to uproot and eradicate Antisemitism, the PA is busy cementing and preserving it.
PMW finds that antisemitic messages have increased in the PA in recent years. They are not mere hate incitement but represent a systematic hate ideology.
The Jews are presented as the source of all evil in the world, as in these hate messages on official PA TV:
PA leader Abbas’ close advisor declared that the conflict with Israel “is not new” but is the continuation of the battle throughout history against Jews who represented “evil, falsehood, and Satan.” Israel, he says, is therefore “Satan’s project.” Abbas himself has said that the Jews suffered the Holocaust due to their behavior – because of their “social roles” connected to “usury and banks.” A PA religious figure explained that Hitler was sent by Allah to punish the Jews, as were the Babylonians, Romans, and other Europeans.
Significantly, PA Antisemitism includes the teaching that these alleged character traits are inherent to Jews and unchanging, and therefore Jews must be eliminated for the benefit of humanity. This is how it was worded in a sermon on official PA TV just six weeks ago:
With this messaging from the PA leadership, it is not surprising that the ADL Global 100 poll in May 2014 found that Palestinians are the most antisemitic people in world. The poll found that 93% of Palestinians believed that at least 6 of the 11 negative stereotypes tested were “probably true.” For example, 78% of Palestinians believe that “Jews are responsible for most of the world’s wars,” which is a direct conclusion from PA teachings.
The PA’s antisemitic ideology can be summarized into the following 5 categories:
The following hate-filled sermon, which was broadcast 6 weeks ago on official PA TV, includes all these elements:
The following are additional examples from the last two years from PMW’s extensive archive of antisemitic hate speech by PA leaders, including educators and clerics preaching on official PA TV. Some of the examples demonstrate that Palestinian children have been taught and have absorbed these harmful messages. The examples appear chronologically:
PLO official: “Jews… knew only to make money, trade, weave plots, corruption… The European nations and Russia were sick of them”
Explaining the reason for the creation of Israel, a PLO official repeated the antisemitic stance that Europe supported the idea in order to get rid of the Jews. (Nov. 4, 2018)
Europe was sick of the Jews and planned to get rid of them: PA explains the Balfour Declaration and European support for Zionism
Explaining to Palestinians why Europe helped create the state of Israel, PA Minister of Education Sabri Saidam posted a video produced by official PA TV, with a classic antisemitic explanation: “The old continent was sick of the behavior of the Jews at the time, and therefore it planned to get rid of them.” (Nov. 2, 2018)
Hitler was sent by Allah to punish the Jews – PA TV sermon
A preacher on official PA TV taught that Hitler was one of a series of people sent by Allah throughout history to punish the Jews because of their evil behavior, and to teach them a lesson. However, in spite of all these punishments the Jews “have not learned from the events of history,” and continue their evil ways. (Oct. 19, 2018)
Jews “dance and live on the body parts of others” and are behind “global corruption,” says PA Islamic Judge on PA TV
A judge in the PA’s Islamic court system taught that Jews “dance and live on the body parts of others, and on the blood of others,” and that “there is no global corruption that their rabbis did not allow.” (Oct. 5, 2018)
Jews’ usury caused Antisemitism – speech by PA Chairman Abbas
Abbas exposed his antisemitic beliefs in a speech, claiming that the Jews brought Antisemitism upon themselves because of their “social roles” connected to “usury and banks.” He said it was this Jewish behavior that led to “massacres by some state every 10 to 15 years from the 11th century until the Holocaust” (April 30, 2018)
Europe’s desire to get rid of remaining Jews after WWII made it support Zionism, says Abbas advisor
The antisemitic PA narrative that Zionism was a European scheme to get rid of the Jews, because Jews were damaging European society, was repeated by senior advisor of Abbas, Mahmoud Al-Habbash. (April 24, 2018)
We’ll take Jerusalem “if not peacefully then by force… Allah, drive out the Jews” – PA TV preacher
Preacher on official PA TV: “The Jews are an arrogant and tyrannical enemy, occupying Jerusalem and Palestine… Allah willing, we will soon take what was taken from us, if not peacefully then by force.” (April 13, 2018)
Girl’s antisemitic poem on PA TV: “Jews defile Jerusalem”
A Palestinian girl recited a poem on PA TV that included antisemitic hate speech about Jews. The girl stated that Jews “defile Jerusalem and its great mosque.” (Dec. 15, 2017)
Jews are “wicked,” “oppressors,” and “evil” in rebroadcast of 1996 PA TV show
PA TV rebroadcast a show that defined Jews as “wicked,” “oppressors,” and “evil,” during an interview with the Palestinian actor who played the role of one of the “evil” Jews. (Sept. 28, 30, 2017)
Fatah spokesman presents Protocols of the Elders of Zion as authentic document
A Fatah spokesman stated that The Protocols of the Elders of Zion instructs “the Zionists” to create extreme Islamic religious streams in order to cause internal disputes among the Arabs to keep the Arab regimes occupied and prevent them from dealing with important issues like “arming [themselves] against the enemy.” (April 16, 2017)
Fatah official: Jews are donkeys (March 21, 2017)
Abbas appoints antisemitic PA TV Imad Hamato host as dean of Gaza Al-Azhar schools
Abbas endorsed antisemitic hate speech against Jews when he met with and appointed antisemitic PA TV host to lead system of schools. (Oct. 25, 2016 and March 6, 2017)
PA TV: Jews stole Kim Kardashian’s diamonds
An article in Israeli media on the arrest of 17 suspects in a jewelry heist noted that two suspects were reportedly Jews. This reference was embraced by PA TV’s “Israeli affairs expert” who said that all Jews are “thieves.” (Jan 11, 2017)
(By Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik)