In a PA TV quiz for Palestinian university students, contestants were
asked how many countries share a border with Lebanon. The correct
answer given by the student and confirmed by the PA TV host was:
"Two countries: Syria and Palestine."
Although Israel is the country bordering Lebanon to the south, it is
not mentioned, and “Palestine” could only be
Lebanon’s neighbor if Israel did not exist.
The Palestinian Authority as policy repeatedly denies Israel´s
existence in its Arabic TV programing, presenting to children and
youth a world in which only "Palestine" exists and replaces
Israel.
The following is the transcript of the question and answer in the
PA TV quiz:
PA TV quiz program The Stars: Host: "How many countries share a border with Lebanon?
" Contestant: "Two countries - Syria and
Palestine." Host: "Of course, two countries - Syria and Palestine.
[Lebanon] is our neighbor - it´s impossible that we wouldn´t
know."
[PA TV (Fatah),
Oct. 8 and 11, 2010]
The following are the transcripts of other questions denying
Israel´s existence from the PA TV quiz program The Stars:
PA TV host: "[True or
false:] The Palestinian coast is 335 km long.
Palestine Polytechnic team - your answer was correct.
The answer is ´false.´ It´s 235 km."
[Note: 235 km is distance from southern Gaza to Israel´s northernmost
point.]
PA TV host: "[True or false:] The Palestinian city known
as "the Chamomile of Palestine" is Haifa.
The answer is ´false.´ [Correct answer is] Nazareth." [Note:
Nazareth is an Israeli city.]
PA TV host: " Here is a simple question.
The area of Palestine is:
1. 27,000 sq.km.
2. 51,000 sq. km.
3. 81,000 sq. km." Student: "The answer is 27,000 sq. km." host: "Of course, we should all know the area of
Palestine. 27,000 sq. km.
That is the correct answer."
[Note: 27,000 sq. km. includes the area of Israel, the West Bank and
Gaza.]
[PA TV (Fatah),
June 25, 2010]
Promotion of PA TV quiz program The Stars. On the screen the
following question appears, and is read out loud: "A Palestinian coastal city is:
1. Ramallah
2. Bethlehem
3. Haifa
Send answers to the number that appears on the screen and win
$500."
[Note: The Israeli city Haifa is the only coastal city of the three.]
[PA TV (Fatah), May
27, 2010]
In November 2009, PA TV introduced a weekly quiz program entitled The
Stars. The first season was funded by the European Union, and the
quiz questions all related to Europe, covering topics such as
history, geography, personalities, government, culture, arts and
sports. Each program featured competing representatives from two
Palestinian Authority universities or colleges. In January 2010 the
competition ended, and the last program showed a prize ceremony with
the participation of Minister of Welfare Majda Al-Masri; Minister of
Prisoners´ Affairs Issa Karake; and director of the MAAN news agency,
Nasser A-Lahham.
In May 2010, a new season of the program was announced, sponsored by
the cell phone company Jawwal. Palestinian Media Watch has been
unable to verify whether this season is also sponsored by the EU. The
program´s logo, a virtual copy of the EU flag but lacking two stars,
continues to be used in this season as well.
