Israellycool reader Dan noticed the keffiyeh after picking up a recent issue of NYX, and emailed the artist of the comic with his concerns:

Hello Kalman,

I just picked up the latest issue of NYX, in which you were the artist, and was a little concerned to see Kiden wearing a keffiyah, a show of solidarity with Palestinian terrorism. Was this your intention or is this a misunderstanding? I look forward to hearing back from you
- Dan

Artist Kalman Andrasofszky responds:

Hey Dan,

Thanks for picking up the book, and for writing.

There is absolutely no political agenda at work here. Whatever the keffiyah may mean to Palestinians, or to you, or to israelis etc. It’s undeniable that here in North America it has become a ubiquitous fashion item among urban teen hipsters. I’m not really able to speak for said hipsters, but I’m certain 99% of them are against terrorism of any kind, Palestinian or otherwise. As am I, for the record.

My decision to dress Kiden in this scarf, simply boils down to the fact that she is an urban teen hipster, and I made her fashion choices reflect her time and her subculture. It’s pretty safe to say that if asked, Kiden would have no sympathy for terrorism in any form. Furthermore, she, like most urban teen hipsters would probably be unaware and unconcerned with the issues of the Middle East, and be equally unaware of the origins of, what to her and her peers, is an apolitical fashion accessory.

All the best,
-Kalman

I believe Kalman Andrasofszky when he says he chose the keffiyeh to reflect Kiden’s fashion choice as “an urban teen hipster.” However, he could not be more wrong when he says “I’m not really able to speak for said hipsters, but I’m certain 99% of them are against terrorism of any kind, Palestinian or otherwise.”

I guess he’s never been to a US college campus or ISM meeting.

Is it a plane?

No, it’s Keffiyeh Man.

Wearing his trademark cape and armed only with a slingshot and oodles of rage, Keffiyeh Man continues the fight (alongside his comrades Hairstyle Man and The Popsicle Crusader) against the filthy Zionist ursurpators and their land-grab, apartheid separation barrier.

Left-wing activists were left stranded on the shores of Herzliya Monday, after a floating protest against the siege on Gaza went awry due to one boat-owner’s refusal to set sail. The captain was hired by the leftists to take them out to sea, but he declined to do so when they arrived wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags.

A vocal conflict erupted between the two sides and police were alerted on the claim that the activists were trespassing. “In the end we couldn’t hold the solidarity regatta because we refused to take down the flags and the keffiyehs. Therefore we remained on the beach and held a protest in the marina, during which we spoke on the phone with the Palestinians sailing opposite the Gazan shore,” Keller said.

The leftists’ boat was to set sail simultaneously with some Gazan fishermen’s boats leaving from the Strip. “The boat owner and captain refused to set sail until the Palestinian flags were removed and the demonstrators took off their keffiyehs,” Gush Shalom spokesman Adam Keller told Ynet.

So it’s fitting that his birth would be commemorated by other terrorists.

Marking the 80th anniversary of the birth of revolutionary leader Che Guevara, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Jabalya, in northern Gaza, organized a day of free medical services on Friday, June 13, 2008.

The day included medical checkups, including pediatric, cardiopulmonary, and dermatological screenings. Doctors provided prenatal care for pregnant women, and pharmacists provided medicines.

Particularly, hundreds of women and children participated in the program, in which over 750 illnesses were diagnosed, and the Union of Health Work Committees provided free treatment. In addition, 700 children received distributions of packaged milk, and medicines for diabetes, high blood pressure and other serious illnesses were distributed.

Participants pointed to this as an example of working for and serving the people, a revolutionary duty exemplified by Che Guevara and a fitting tribute to his birthday.

Meanwhile, notice the graphic used in the PFLP article, which combines Che Guevara – the archetypal symbol of terror chic – with the keffiyeh, the latest symbol of terror chic.

And the story has a number of interesting aspects. For a start, the complaints have not just originated from those who deplore the ubiquitization of palestinian terror chic. Palestinians have also taken offense – for very different reasons.

The “keffiyeh kerfuffle” – which forced Dunkin’ Donuts to dump an ad featuring a celebrity chef wearing a scarf similar to a traditional Arab head-dress – has hit a Bondi bottleshop, one of its staff claims.

Sandra Tieger, 20, alleged to smh.com.au she began to feel like a terrorism supporter following the reaction to her wearing a black and white scarf to work at Kemeny’s.

Ms Tieger’s claims – which the store rejects – follow attacks on an ad for the US Dunkin’ Donuts chain, in which celebrity chef Rachael Ray wore a scarf. Critics have said the scarf has “violent symbolism and anti-Israel overtones”.

But Ms Tieger said she had “no idea about the politics” when she bought the scarf at the Tree Of Life store.

“I thought it was a nice scarf, a cowboy scarf. I thought: ‘It’s black and white, no-one will say anything to me because that’s all we can wear [with our work uniform]‘.

“A Palestinian customer came up and asked me if I’m wearing this scarf as a fashion statement or for political reasons.

“I had no idea what he was talking about because I don’t follow politics at all. I just laughed it off.

“Two days later he called and complained about it.”

Shevonne Hunt, a freelance journalist who has reported on the keffiyeh’s popularity in Australia, said many Palestinians were annoyed the widespread use of the keffiyeh for fashion had watered down its meaning.

In other words, palestinians are annoyed that the keffiyeh’s violent symbolism is being watered down by its widespread use. Which reinforces what an emotive symbol of terrorism it really is.

The story has another interesting yet troubling aspect. While many Jews have justifiably taken offense to the keffiyeh, not so the head of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff said the wearing of the keffiyeh as a fashion item was a “non-issue”.

“It’s a non-issue as far as we are concerned. If someone chooses to wear such an item for whatever reason that’s their choice.”

This is the same Vic Alhadeff who earlier this year raised concerns over two NSW stores that had been selling Nazi memorabilia and clothing, saying it “sends a very unfortunate and dangerous message for people to be openly displaying Nazi insignia, given what the Nazis stood for and given that Australia fought against the Nazis.

Why isn’t Mr Alhadeff also indignant over the widespread wearing of keffiyehs, given what “palestinian terrorists stand for”? Because let’s face it, the main difference between them and the Nazis is the numbers.