Kids get martyr message in music video

October 18, 2004

A music video urging children to become suicide bombers and which was removed from circulation last year returned to official Palestinian television last week along with the publication of a new school textbook teaching children how to aid terrorists.

The words in the music video are sung by a woman vocalist wearing an army uniform, and the visuals include children in frenzied war dances, interspersed between scenes of children participating in violence in combat zones, reports Palestinian Media Watch.

The lyrics to the song, translated by PMW, glorify suicide bombing – the becoming a Shahid: “You will not be saved, Oh Zionist, from the volcano of my country’s stones, You are the target of my eyes, I will even willingly fall as a Shahid [Martyr for Allah]. You are the target of my eyes, I will even willingly fall as a Shahid. Allah Akbar, Oh the young ones.”

The music video was removed from circulation last year by the Palestinian Authority after it was played during a Senate committee, but has returned to official PA television, playing at least ten times in the last 13 days.

The re-release of the video coincides with the publication of new official Palestinian textbooks teaching children to participate in combat by supplying water and gathering information for terrorists in active combat zones.

A 6th-grade schoolbook teaches PA children to follow the example of a young child, who according to Islamic tradition, fulfilled combat support roles.

The textbook explains that while Muhammad and his companion Abu Bakr hid in a cave, Bakr’s young daughter aided them by passing them information about the enemy and giving them water. The book teaches children to see themselves in similar roles with such language as: “Asma, Abu Bakr’s daughter, was my age when she played a role …” and immediately asks children: “What role can I play in order to support the national resistance movement against the occupier and colonialist?”

“This week’s revelation is yet another reminder that the new PA textbooks still promote hatred and violence, contrary to the false information being spread by Palestinian apologists. This is also a confirmation that this education indeed is reflected in the violent and life-threatening behavior of Palestinian children,” said PMW in a statement.