Chapter 10
Introduction and Commentary.

“Knight Without a Horse” continues with the Protocols and its connection to Zionism taking a more prominent role in the story, while the first seeds of the developing delegitimization of Zionism theme are appearing. This theme is running parallel to the central theme of the early chapter of Hafez’s fighting against the British.

Zionism’s introduction to the series needs some background explanation. A foundation of Palestinian and certain Arab ideology is that modern Jewry has no historical connection to the Land of Israel, and that the Jewish search for a Homeland - to escape anti Semitism - was not centered on returning to Israel, but any country would have sufficed. It was British imperial interest, attempting to prevent Arab unification, that directed and implanted the Zionist “cancer” in Palestinian, according to Palestinian ideology and teaching.

Note the following discussion between two senior Palestinian academics, on educational Palestinian Authority broadcast:

Program: “Pages from our History”
Dr. Jarir Al-Kidwah [Arafat Advisor on Education and Head of the PA Public Library]:

“The Europeans were afraid of Arab unity, which would have hurt their colonialism in our region, and so they decided... to prevent Arab unity by placing a foreign body in the heart of the Arab nation, and that is the Zionist body manifested by the Jews in Palestine...”

Dr. Issam Sissalem [Senior Historian and Educational TV host]:
“…The Zionists and Colonialists met in Brussels and decided to establish a cancer in the land of Alshaam [Greater Syria],.. They [the Jews] thought of Uganda, Cyprus, Argentina. Palestine was not a goal... But British interests caused the establishment of this cancer here... hence the Crusader wars continue...”

Dr. Issam Sissalem: “…In 1927 they named the region “the Land of Israel.”

Moderator: “…We hope our nation will be able to overcome the cursed Balfour Declaration ...” [PA TV November 9, 2000]

This false depiction of Zionism in Israel having started as a British initiative for imperial purposes is the basis for the discussion in this episode:

Hafez’es grandfather says: “...The British do not take only Egypt, but every country they want... people should know that there is there is a huge conspiracy against the whole Moslem nation...”
A newspaper editor asks a group about the book “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion”. One of them answers that there are secret groups all over the world trying to prevent its distribution, in order to prevent disclosure of the Jewish schemes but another says that the whole story is fabricated.

Scene of the Jewish Elders:
An unnamed Jew with no beard: “Britain will help us. Herzl said we should direct our efforts to Britain so it will give its patronage to the Zionist movement” … Another: “Can’t you convince Britain to give us Sinai, as a national homeland?”
Another: “And why was Herzl’s proposal that we settle in Uganda at the Sixth Zionist Congress refused? Britain did not support this proposal.”
Guest: “Britain has own interests. ...”
Elder: “In the Seventh Congress we decided about establishing a national homeland for us only in Palestine!”
Guest: “Of course it will happen. England has interest in our presence in Palestine. It will prevent all Arab or Moslem Union, and it will isolate Egypt from the Levant (Greater Syria)....”

Elder: If the British occupy Palestine, it will be easier to take control of it.
A man complains about all the years that were lost.
Elder”: The time is not important. What is important... is we should reach our goal!”

The episode ends with Hafez, the hero fighting the British, meeting Margaret, who we know from the previous episode has a copy of the Protocols. (PMW.ORG.IL 11/15/02)