| Tomorrow's Pioneers | |
|---|---|
 Farfour the Mouse, co-host of the first season, mimicking anAK-47 being fired. | |
| Arabic | رواد الغد |
| Created by | Hazim Al-Sha'arawi[1] |
| Directed by |
|
| Presented by | Hazim Al-Sha'arawi |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Palestine |
| Original language | Arabic |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 21 |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Gaza Strip,Palestine[3] |
| Editor | Hazim Al-Sha'arawi |
| Original release | |
| Network | Al-Aqsa TV |
| Release | 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 theHamas-affiliated television stationAl-Aqsa TV from 13 April 2007 to 16 October 2009. Directed by Hazim Al-Sha'arawi, the show is hosted by a young Saraa Barhoum and a largecostumed character, who perform skits and discuss life in Palestine in atalk show fashion with call-ins from young children. Presented in a children's educational format similar to shows likeSesame Street andMister Rogers' Neighborhood,[4]Tomorrow's Pioneers teachesIslamist morals and values, periodically quoting theHadith andQuran. According to various news outlets and western sources, the show also containsantisemitic,[5]anti-American,[6] and otheranti-Western themes.[7]Palestinian Media Watch has characterised the show's messages as "hostile", while others have argued that criticism of the show adds toanti-Arabist andIslamophobic depictions of Palestinians, as well as negative stereotyping of Arabs in general.
Tomorrow's Pioneers also gained attention fromDisney, who ordered that the first co-host, Farfour, be written out of the show due to his strong resemblance toMickey Mouse.[8] In direct response, Farfour was killed in the fifth episode in what the show referred to as amartyrdom, and he was replaced by his cousin, a giant bumblebee named Nahoul, who served as the show's second co-host. Following Farfour's success, Palestinian Information MinisterMustafa Barghouti lobbied to have the show shut down, although this ban was later lifted, and in 2008, United States RepresentativeJoe Crowley submitted House Resolution No. 1069, which demanded that Hamas accept all previously established peace agreements with Israel.[9]
The show's English translation, provided byMEMRI, attracted the attention of commentators, includingCNN Arabic department andBrian Whitaker ofThe Guardian, who noted that the translation contained multiple errors, undue emphases, and possible bias. In response, MEMRI presidentYigal Carmon was invited onto political commentatorGlenn Beck's programme, where Carmon declared MEMRI's translation of the show to be more accurate than CNN's Arabic translation.
Tomorrow's Pioneers revolves around a host, originally Saraa Barhoum, and a costumed character performing comedic or educational skits and discussing life inPalestine 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 calledAfnan and Aghsan.[b][10]
In the State of Palestine,Hamas-funded social, cultural and children's institutions have become an integral part of theiragenda. These institutions engage in incitement, social radicalization and recruitment.[11] Hamas considers media as a "decisive weapon"[12] that effectively spreads information in support of the organization and its ideologies via newspapers, leaflets, websites, television, radio, affiliated mosques, and supporting vocal groups.[13] On 9 January 2006, after Hamas won thePalestinian legislative election, the organisation launched its own channel, Al-Aqsa TV, targeted at both Palestinian and global audiences.[3] Moreover, the children's shows broadcast on Al-Aqsa TV spread Hamas's ideologies, exemplified byTomorrow's Pioneers.[5]
Saraa Barhoum,[c] who hostedTomorrow's Pioneers, was around 10–11 years old when the show started.[14] Saraa's uncle,Fawzi Barhoum [ar], is a Hamas spokesman.[15] In an August 2007 interview, Saraa said she wanted to be adoctor, and if not that, then a martyr.[14] Saraa is not present after the original run of the show; instead, a new host named Maryam[d] takes her place.[16]
Hazim Al-Sha'arawi, the show's creator and moderator, has appeared in a few episodes as Uncle Hazim.[e] The uncle of 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,[17] and in episode 104, he initially holds Farfour responsible for cheating on his exam before realising that Farfour's home was bombed by the Jews and that he had to leave his notes behind in order to survive.[18][19]
Farfour,[f] a mouse whose design resembles Mickey Mouse,[20] is a costumed character with a high-pitched voice who co-hostedTomorrow's Pioneers with Saraa.[21] 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"[17] and they "will return theIslamic community to its former greatness" by liberatingJerusalem and Iraq, among other locations.[20][17] In episode 103, he simulates shooting an AK-47 and throwinggrenades.[6][22] 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 renamedTel Aviv.[23][24] Farfour is replaced as co-host in episode 202 by Nahoul, hisbumblebee cousin. The idea for thestory arc involving Farfour's death came from Al-Sha'arawi.[15]
TheDisney corporation initially had no public statement on the use of Mickey Mouse's image in the Farfour character. Disney CEORobert 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".[25]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."[26] In a response letter,Tomorrow's Pioneers director Fathi Hammad said: "Before ... [anyone] object[s] to our [programme], 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."[27] The storyline in which Farfour was killed off and replaced by Nahoul came in direct response to actions by the Disney family.[8]
Several months after Disney's response, Hamas again made use of Disney characters in a five-minute cartoon attackingFatah. The clip depicted the competing movement and its former local leaderMohammed Dahlan as corrupt and anti-Islamic rats, while portraying Hamas as a confident lion based on theSimba character from the 1994 filmThe 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 the reference toThe Lion King.[28] In September 2008, Fatah began broadcasting a competing children's show on the officialPalestinian Authority TV (PA TV) network. This programme featured the Mickey andMinnie Mouse characters, who appeared in an episode where children glorifiedDalal Mughrabi, a young woman who participated in the 1978coastal road massacre.[29]
Nahoul[g] 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, ofmartyrdom, of themujahideen."[30][31] 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."[32] In episode 204, Nahoul visits the zoo, where he proceeds to swing cats by their tails and throw them around their cage.[33] He later throws stones into a cage of lions, taunting them with hisstinger. After the incident, Saraa chastises him against doing it again, citing a story in theHadith in which a woman went to hell for starving her cat.[34] In February 2008, it was revealed that Nahoul was very sick and in need of an operation. Although Nahoul and his parents travelled toAl-Arish, Egypt, for medical treatment, but they were denied permission to leave Gaza by Israeli authorities.[35] He dies in what the show calls "a martyr's death".[36]
In 2013, Nahoul was resurrected, this time with a different bumblebee costume. His stance on Jewish people remains the same, stating that they should bestoned and beaten until their faces "turn red as a tomato".[37] In another episode, Maryam explains to Nahoul the concept of negotiations, which involves forgiving theZionists for the deaths of numerous martyrs, as well as the division of Jerusalem and theAl-Aqsa Mosque, but she later said that she chose the path of resistance.[16] On 28 July 2014, the actor who played Nahoul and Karkour the chicken,[h] Muhammad al-Alrir, was killed by Israeli missiles due to his affiliation with Hamas.[38][39]
Assoud,[i] aBugs Bunny orRoger Rabbit-like character, was introduced after his brother, the previous co-host, Nahoul, died of illness.[36] In explaining why he is called Assoud, when Arnoub[j] 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."[35][36] Before Nahoul's death, Assoud lived inLebanon; he used thebreach of the Gaza-Egypt border as an opportunity to return to his homeland of Palestine "in order to liberate it".[36] In episode 305, Assoud was seen dying in a Gazan hospital after being injured in an Israeli attack.[40] On his deathbed, he tells Palestinian children that they must fight and die to liberateHaifa, Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities.[41][42] Assoud hinted in episode 302 that he would be replaced by a tiger when he died.[43]
Nassur[k] is the fourth co-host ofTomorrow's Pioneers, introduced on 13 February 2009. He is abrown 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 fromIran).[44] As such, he vowed in his debut episode to wield a gun and performjihad.[45] In episode 403, Nassur and Saraa welcome the children ofReem Riyashi, a suicide bomber who killed four Israelis at theErez Crossing on 14 January 2004, onto the studio.[46] The children and the two hosts then watch a music video re-enacting the events leading up to the2004 Erez Crossing bombing.[47] In a later episode, it is revealed that Nassur knows Hebrew.[48]
Due to political instability and regionalconflict between Hamas and Fatah, the show has not maintained uninterrupted broadcasting. During theBattle of Gaza in June 2007, the Al-Aqsa TV station was taken over and shut down by Fatah gunmen.[49][50] In September 2008, Fatah began broadcasting a competing show targeting children on the official PA TV network.[29] Further complicating regular broadcast ofTomorrow's Pioneers were controversies surrounding the show itself, which led toMustafa Barghouti, formerPalestinian Information Minister, successfully lobbying to have the show shut down, although this ban was later lifted.[51]Tomorrow's Pioneers was rebooted in the early 2010s, and its final episode aired on 22 July 2022.[52]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 1 | "Farfour Is Caught Speaking English" | 13 April 2007 (2007-04-13) | |
Farfour and Saraa discuss martyrdom and the reclamation ofAl-Aqsa with Sanabel, a call-in guest. Saraa then discusses the goals of fasting, praying, reciting theQuran, and studying and speaking inclassical 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 ofGaza, Jerusalem, andRamallah into onePalestine. 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 deadfetus 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 inLebanon.[17][19] | ||||
| 102 | 2 | "Farfour Vs. Bush, Olmert, & Condoleeza" | 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 asGeorge W. Bush,Ehud Olmert, andCondoleezza Rice, that "we will win!"[6][19][53] | ||||
| 103 | 3 | "Farfour and the AK-47" | 27 April 2007 (2007-04-27) | |
During a song about "answering" theGaza Strip town ofRafah 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 ofmemorising the entire Quran.[22][19] | ||||
| 104 | 4 | "Farfour Is Caught Cheating" | 11 May 2007 (2007-05-11) | |
Farfour prepares for and takes hisyear-end examinations. Hecheats by using acheat 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 likeJābir 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 theJews aboutAl-Andalus, and to ask theChristians how they remain secure in their buildings of worship.[18][19] | ||||
| 105 | 5 | "Farfour and the Jew" | 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 theIsraeli 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.[23][54] | ||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | 6 | "Saraa and The Hadith" | 6 July 2007 (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!"[54][55] | ||||
| 202 | 7 | "Nahoul Descends" | 13 July 2007 (2007-07-13) | |
| 203 | 8 | "Nahoul's Rant" | 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 fromRamallah calls in and Nahoul assures that him and the audience will go onjihad when they grow up.[32][54] | ||||
| 204 | 9 | "Nahoul's Big Day Out" | 10 August 2007 (2007-08-10) | |
Nahoul and Saraa discuss the occupation ofAl-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 throughmorning prayer, blood, sacrifice, pain, martyrs, and endurance. Saraa then suggests they examine what Nahoul has been doing recently, emphasising a visit to theGaza Zoo where heabused animals to entertain a group of children[56] – 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.[34][57] | ||||
| 205 | 10 | "Nahoul & Saraa's Feast of the Sacrifice Extravaganza" | 21 December 2007 (2007-12-21) | |
It isThe Feast of the Sacrifice and Saraa specially sings for the audience and anAl-Aqsa news reporter a version of the song originally sung by Harwa in episode 103 about liberating Palestine fromTiberias toAnaba. Saraa has backup vocals from a male choir. Saraa sings that they liberatedGaza City, not by theOslo Accords orOslo II Accord, but by force. She continues that "Rafah sings, and theKalashnikov replies." The song ends with Saraa singing "the first stone [of theintifada] 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 giveholiday 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 theFirst Intifada,Second Intifada, and theBattle of Jenin, respectively. Furthermore, he states that his mother suffers fromdiabetes, and his father suffers fromhepatitis 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.[58] | ||||
| 206 | 11 | "Assoud Arrives" | 1 February 2008 (2008-02-01) | |
Nahoul is deathly ill. His parents explain that they tried to bring him "toAl-Arish, but we couldn't get [Nahoul] toEgypt 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 fromthe diaspora carrying the Key of Return. Allah willing, we will use this key to liberate ourAl-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 theJews,Allah willing, and I will eat them up, Allah willing, right?" to which Saraa optimistically replies "Allah willing."[36][7] | ||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301 | 12 | "Assoud's Tale" | 8 February 2008 (2008-02-08) | |
Assoud the rabbit says he sneaked in from Egypt when theGaza 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. | ||||
| 302 | 13 | "Assoud Vs. Denmark" | 15 February 2008 (2008-02-15) | |
Assoud rails against theDanishJyllands-Posten cartoonists responsible for theMuhammad 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 toboycott Danish products, as well as Israeli products.[7][43] | ||||
| 303 | 14 | "Assoud's History Lesson" | 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, inquiring if he has "gone senile", to which Assoud's grandfather denies. He explains that Tel Al-Rabi wasHebraicised to Tel Aviv. He goes on to say that Tel Al-Rabi belongs toPalestine, 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 theschool curricula."[59] | ||||
| 304 | 15 | "Assoud Steals" | 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 toHell, and then quotes the prophetMuhammad in theQuran 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 inSaudi 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 ashekel 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.[60] | ||||
| 305 | 16 | "Assoud is Martyred" | 2 January 2009 (2009-01-02) | |
Assoud is gravely injured during Israeli attacks on Gaza during the2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict. He succumbs to his injuries and dies some time later in the hospital. | ||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | 17 | "Nassur Visits the Gaza Strip" | 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.[44] | ||||
| 402 | 18 | "Saraa's Song" | 20 March 2009 (2009-03-20) | |
Tomorrow's Pioneers has broadcast Saraa's firstmusic video, "Educate the Children",[l] 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 aStar of David as they sing that "death is honor and victory." | ||||
| 403 | 19 | "Nassur and the Children of Reem Riyashi" | 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 ashahid. 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. | ||||
| 404 | 20 | "Nassur and the Expulsion of the Jews" | 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 newQaaba-like point of pilgrimage for Muslims. | ||||
| 405 | 21 | "Saraa and the Language of the Enemy" | 16 October 2009 (2009-10-16) | |
Nassur and Saraa discuss with a call-in guest the merits of learning English andHebrew. Saraa explains that knowing their enemies' languages is important in order to establish contact with them. Nassur also reveals that he knows Hebrew. | ||||
Tomorrow's Pioneers teaches children Islamic traditions and customs such as performing one's daily prayers, as well as healthy habits like the importance of drinking milk, but advocates messages such as "resistance jihad",anti-zionism, and opposition tocapitalism, the United States, and theWestern world.[61][6] Defenders of the show have suggested that the show's notoriety stands as evidence of political motivations behindanti-Arabist andIslamophobic subjections of Palestinians and subsequent generalisations 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."[21] Criticism of the show has been regarded as criticism of Islam as a religion.[62] WhilePalestinian Media Watch (PMW) 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 byinternational laws and regulations, while talking about thelove of the land and homeland is normal."[21] Furthermore, proponents of the show believe that Saraa Barhoum was "incapable of incitement" due to her young age at the time.[63] 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.[64][63] 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."[63] 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 Westernmores.[65]
Criticisms concerning the content and methods employed in the broadcast ofTomorrow's Pioneers have come from a variety of sources and communities; watchdog groups have described the show as "anti-Israeli", and PMW has commented on the show's "champion[ing of] violence".[7] 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.[66] ProfessorMia Bloom, who specialises inIslamic studies, described the show as a "constant stream of propaganda" and compared the values taught to the practises used by theTaliban andIslamic State,[67] adding that the show used characters such as Farfour to attract children's attention.[4] Bloom estimated that many children who watchedTomorrow's Pioneers would grow up to become responsible for attacks against Jews, such as theOctober 7 attacks,[67] and Arabic and Palestinian critics have suggested that the show is nothing short of an indoctrination attempt aimed at children.[68]
After the character Farfour attracted international attention due to his strong resemblance to Mickey Mouse, Palestinian Information MinisterMustafa 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.[51] Al-Aqsa TV board chairmanFathi Hamad replied that the station would neither pull the program, nor change the subject matter. He stated that the criticism was designed by western and occupying powers to oppose both Islam and the Palestinian cause.[69][70] 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."[64] In a later interview with Al-Aqsa TV, Hamad explained that the Jews want the people of Palestine to renounce their Islamic faith and belief, since he believes Islam is the key to their success.[71]
On 1 April 2008, Rep.Joe Crowley submitted House Resolution No. 1069 in theUnited 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."[72][73] The resolution discussedTomorrow'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.[9]
Several commentators, such asCNN's Arabic department, have noted that the transcript ofTomorrow's Pioneers provided by MEMRI contains numerous translation errors and undue emphases.[74]Brian Whitaker, theMiddle East editor for British newspaperThe 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 Sanabel while ignoring her actual reply, "I'm going to draw a picture".[74][75]
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"[74] or "The Jews are killing us."[76] 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.[77] Conservative television hostGlenn Beck had planned to run MEMRI's translation on his radio programme but was stopped by his producer. Beck then invitedYigal Carmon, a former colonel ofIDF Intelligence and founder and President of MEMRI, onto the programme where Carmon denounced CNN's Arabic translation[74] and defended the context and syntax of MEMRI's translation of the show.[76]
Non-Disney works featuringMickey Mouse | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Films |
| ||
| Television |
| ||
| Comics |
| ||
| Visual arts |
| ||
| Related | |||
