Good news from the PA

Yes, good news but note this sly bit of dissimulation by Shaath in the Haaretz version of the Reuters story:

We condemn assault of Judaism as a religion. As Muslims we reject such remarks," said Sha'ath, who is also deputy PA prime minister.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/577812.html

Uh-huh. "Judaism as a religion". No condemnation however, of the perpetual Palestinian assault on Judaism in its embodiment as a nation-state, otherwise known as Israel.

And Shaath is in charge of PA television. How much incitement continues under his watch?

Posted by: Charles Martel at May 19, 2005 11:56:04 AM

Point the spotlight at them and they will condemn anything they believe the Western infidels might not like, but point it away and the incitement goes on as planned.

Posted by: Nemesis6 at May 19, 2005 1:58:06 PM

Shaath tried to sidestep the doo-doo. He slipped in it instead.

Posted by: ashan at May 19, 2005 3:44:29 PM

Well, I'm choosing not to be so cynical. It's a start, and I think some credit should be given for that.

Posted by: Paul McLaughlan at May 19, 2005 4:08:41 PM

It is wrong not to acknowledge these small positive steps by Shaath. But acknowledgement should be accompanied by anger, both from Jews and from Western press, leaders and public that, more than a decade after Oslo and months after Sharm and the ending of Arafat's era, this kind of vicious antisemitism still makes its way into PA-controlled outlets at all.

Public anti-semitism would stop if it was clear to the Palestinians that it actually mattered to the rest of the world. The fact that it is still happening now says something about Palestinian attitudes, but it says a lot, too, about the two-faced West.

Posted by: Paul M at May 19, 2005 4:32:25 PM

Here is the BBC view of the denouncement of the hate filled sermon which was broadcast.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4565301.stm

Please note that this broadcast medium only goes out to 1% of Palestinians on the West Bank who favour other Arab stations. So the damge created was less than one might fear but then again the apology and retraction was less valuable also.

A good step in the right direction but there is a lot more to be done by the Palestinians to correct the hate filled imagery they have sent out over decades.

Posted by: Robert at May 23, 2005 2:05:30 PM