As part of a TV campaign to "support women´s issues" in the Arab
world, a TV clip presenting several "model women" was broadcast on
more than 50 Arab TV stations including Palestinian Authority TV. One
of the women promoted as role models for Arab women today is famous
for her terrorist attack that killed dozens, and another is famous
for celebrating the Martyrdom deaths of her children.
The clip was broadcast as part of the "White Hands Campaign - The
largest media campaign to support women´s issues," which is
organized "by the Arab Producers Union for TV (APUTV) in cooperation
with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)," according to the
campaign´s English website.
Entitled The Model Woman, the clip honors different Arab women of the
past, assigning to them various virtues and accomplishments. Dalal
Mughrabi, who in 1978 led the most lethal terror attack against
Israel, in which 37 civilians were killed, was venerated in the clip
as a role model for "Martyrdom" and "victory over enmity". Al Khansa,
a 7th century Arab poet, who celebrated her four sons´ Martyrdom
deaths in battle was praised as an example of "resolve"
and "Martyrdom and giving".
The campaign´s English website also states that "APUTV works under
the umbrella of the Arab League, and through the Arab Ministers
Information Council." And that "APUTV´s official headquarters are in
Cairo- Egypt."
The website explains that "women are essential partners and important
actors for the development of society," and mentions that one of the
campaign´s objectives is "to bring about distinguished women samples
that have offered great services to society."
It further states that "societies signal distinguished samples of
personalities with pride, and reflect the spot lights on them in
order for them [Arab women] to take an inspirational course for
generations to come. Arabic societies like other societies, highly
appreciate figures where great virtues of giving transcend in
different fields, and there is nothing greater than distinguished
women in our societies, as they are great models to be followed by
the old or the young, these women can be the working farmers, the
teachers, the doctors, the engineers, the scientists, the lawyers,
the activists in all fields whether social or political, they are the
ones to sacrifice, and in all of their cases, they are the mothers!"
[http://www.whitehandsc.com/en/component/content/51.html?task=view ]
The following is the transcript of the campaign video presenting
women famous for terror and Martyrdom as role models:
Text on screen:
"The Model Woman"
Host of TV program:
"Woman is the foundation of existence.
Love - Ishtar - the symbol of fertility and altruism.
(Ishtar - Babylonian goddess)
Willpower - Cleopatra - wit and wisdom.
(Cleopatra - Queen of Egypt)
Intelligence - Balqis [and] Zenobia - fighting.
(Queens of Sheba and Palmyra)
Resolve - Al Khansa - Martyrdom and giving.
(7th cent. poet who celebrated her four sons´ deaths in battle)
Courage - Bint Al-Azwar - strong faith.
(7th cent. Arab poet who fought against the Byzantine Empire)
Martyrdom - Dalal Mughrabi - victory over enmity.
(led terror attack in which 37 Israeli civilians were killed)
Struggle - Djamila Bouhired - human freedom.
(Algerian terrorist who became a political activist)
Freedom, giving, patience, sacrifice, life, loyalty - "White
Hands."
For her sake, for our sake, for the sake of a society aspiring
towards giving - "White Hands" Campaign."
Text on screen:
"The largest media campaign to support women´s issues."
[PA TV (Fatah), broadcast weekly Nov. - Dec., 2010]
