Friday, March 21, 2003
About a minute ago I was watching the Gulf news station Al-Jazeera, which was being relayed by the Palestinian TV station Bethlehem Television. The subject of the broadcast was of course the American attack against Iraq. As soon as the discussion turned to the subject of Iraqi soldiers who surrendered to the Americans today, the TV station pulled the relay off the air and started broadcasting Palestinian propaganda films. The Palestinian National Authority likes its Iraqis to be fighting heros, not frightened soldiers who surrender.
Ah...well on their way to a free and open society, I see.
But unlike Arabs in north Africa or Syria or even their cousins in Jordan, the Palestinian Arabs at least have access to Israeli television, as well as a plethora of Internet cafes. The new generation probably sees the democratic, western future much more clearly than their elders. If reform does in fact take place, it will take place from the bottom up.
I hope you're right. I fear for how the up and comers are being indoctrinated, but I suppose hope springs eternal.