- Abbas demands TV shed violent visuals — JERUSALEM — Newly elected President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered Palestinian television to cleanse its screens of bloody imagery to conform with a new mood of conciliation in the region. Eulogies to suicide bombers, or “martyrs” as they were known, have given way to “feel-good” nature programs and romantic films. Instead of referring to “martyr operations,” suicide bombings are described more neutrally as “explosions.” The changes have been brought in as Israelis and Palestinians prepare for tomorrow’s summit in Egypt between Mr. Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Mr. Abbas, who is also known as Abu Mazen, summoned the directors of the television station and told them to tone down their aggressive programming. He also said he did not want the kind of sycophantic, round-the-clock coverage of his schedule that was the norm under the former Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.
Wow, now there’s an idea. With Palestinian children growing up without bloody, hate-filled brainwashing, perhaps there is a chance in “H-E-Double Hockey Sticks” that Palestine will give up some degree of its violence towards their neighbors. Who knows.
