Introduction:
A sign of Yasser Arafat’s internal weakness is the growing number of propaganda clips on PA TV promoting Arafat as the heroic leader of the Palestinians. Today a new 5-minute clip glorifying Arafat was broadcast twice on PA TV, with numerous messages of significance that are intended to counter what must be a growing mood of opposition in the PA.

For the PA, the most important opinions to counter relate to the recent disastrous military confrontation. The clip counters this by presenting it as a victory with a repeating refrain:

“Yasser, You are the rebel leader, You are the triumphant, The occupation is defeated.”

This line is repeated with various scenes including those of bloodied Israeli soldiers.

The PA must also address internal opposition to its observed double standard when, after they called to fight Israel to the death, most of the PA fighters surrendered. This is countered in the clip by an Arafat yearning Martyrdom:

“They want me captivated/Persecuted/Or killed

Finally, the PA needs to try to ameliorate its new international image of supporting terrorism by presenting itself as the victim of what it presents as Israeli Nazism. Numerous scenes contrast forceful Israeli military activity with orderly Palestinian protest. One scene shows a huge billboard portraying a monster-like Ariel Sharon under a giant swastika, wielding an ax, towering over a tiny Palestinian child who is throwing a stone.

With its international image in mind, the PA aired this clip with English subtitles.

The Clip:
Choir:
Patience, oh Yasser, You are the rebel leader You are the triumphant The occupation is defeated


Soloist:
Patience oh Yasser You are the rebel leader
You are the triumphant
The occupation is defeated
Patience Oh Yasser
Patience Oh Yasser

Narrator speaks
(in the background: Arafat in dark surroundings, fences behind him):
They want me captivated Persecuted Or killed
My answer is To be Martyred
Martyred, Martyred

Soloist:
Rise to be a Martyr
It is a dignity death
You are great And will not tremble

Choir repeats:
Rise to be a Martyr It is a dignity death
You are great And will not tremble
The occupation is defeated

Soloist:
Patience oh Yasser
Patience oh Yasser

- interlude -

Brother don´t bend
After the dark is drawn
Our death is life
You are the triumphant

Choir repeats:
Brother don´t bend
After the dark is drawn
Our death is life
You are the triumphant
The occupation is defeated

Choir: Patience oh Yasser
Soloist: Patience
Choir: You are the rebel leader
Soloist: Patience
Choir: You are the triumphant
Soloist: You are!
Choir: The occupation is defeated
Soloist: Patience oh Yasser, Patience oh Yasser

- interlude -

Soloist resumes:
Despite the fire and the pain
Despite the oppression and the siege
Jerusalem is our homeland
You are the triumphant

Choir repeats:
Despite the fire and the pain
Despite the oppression and the siege
Jerusalem is our homeland
You are the triumphant
The occupation is defeated

Soloist: Patience oh Yasser, Patience oh Yasser
Choir: Patience oh Yasser
Soloist: Patience
Choir: You are the rebel leader
Soloist: Patience
Choir: You are the triumphant
The occupation is defeated
[on the screen, in English: “IN YOUR LAND, PALESTINE”]

Soloist: (fading out, no subtitles)
Patience oh Yasser
Patience oh Yasser
Patience oh Yasser
Patience oh Yasser
Patience oh Yasser
(PMW.ORG.IL 06/10/02)