Official Palestinian Authority (PA) TV has produced and broadcast a
music video that attempts to steal Psalm 137 regarding Jerusalem,
mimicking the famed words: "If I forget thee, oh Jerusalem, may my
right hand forget its skill, may my tongue cling to the roof of my
mouth if I do not remember thee, If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my
chief joy."
Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) monitored, recorded and translated the
clip.
The eternal verse from Psalms expresses Jewish longing for Jerusalem
after its destruction and the Jewish exile. It is recited at every
traditional Jewish wedding and has been quoted and put to music by
countless writers, speakers and artists over time.
The song broadcast on PA TV and performed by an Egyptian singer
includes scenes from the markets in the old city of Jerusalem, Arab
children playing, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock and the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, blended with scenes of riots, stone-
throwing, and clashes with Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem. PMW notes
that no Jewish holy sites or landmarks are shown and the only
Israelis seen are soldiers.
The song includes the following lyrics:
"May my right arm forget me, may my left arm forget me.
May the light of my eyes and the openings of songs forget me, if I
forget Jerusalem.
(…)
May I wilt, may I wilt and die, if I forget Jerusalem.
May the joy of the day, the shadow of the houses, the sound of
strings forget me,
and the laughter of every neighbor, if I forget Jerusalem.
The clip was broadcast on PA TV (Fatah), on Feb. 25 and March 11,
2012.
