This message was broadcast today in a music video for children, and was part of the full day dedicated to mourning the creation of Israel 57 years ago today, on May15,1948. This message to children, “Israel took everything in 1948” summarizes the essence of PA ideology, and the motivation for the continuing PA war against Israel today. [To view the children’s video click here.]

Friday’s sermon likewise reiterated the PA rejection of Israel together with the promise that Israel will be destroyed:

“This “Nakba” – “Catastrophe” is the worst day of remembrance for the Palestinian people… because with the lose of Palestine, the Arab nation was lost, and with the establishment of the false state of Israel, the whole Muslim nation was lost… He who says that the Jews have any right over this land – besides being occupiers – is a liar, and they will disappear”. [Ibrahim Mudayris, May 13 2005 PA TV]

The climax of the day was when the siren sounded across the PA at 12:00 noon, and Palestinians stood for a minute of silence to mourn Israel’s existence. It is important to note that the PA mourns as the Nakba -the catastrophe – not Israel’s acquiring Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip in 1967 - but Israel’s creation in 1948.

The denial of Israel’s existence is expressed visually as well. The key has long been the symbol of the Palestinian claim to ownership of Israel and their desire to see the fulfillment of their so-called ‘right of return,’ shorthand for removing Israel’s Jewish majority and thus effectively destroying Israel.

Palestinian newspapers – including the PA’s official daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida – have, in the last few days, published numerous images of the key. In case the point was missed, today’s image comes replete with a map of Israel – symbolizing ownership over all of Israel.

Examples of the key symbol being used in Palestinian Authority media over the years can be found here.

Another once-popular broadcast returned to PA TV over the weekend. This clip was shown in part on Friday, May 13 and numerous times on May 15. It claims that the “forces of oppression are still dividing the world,” while showing a map of “Palestine” that erases all of Israel.