Promising: A PA Cabinet Minister requested a song seemingly promoting “non-violent resistance” over terrorism.
Not promising: the reaction to the song, by both palestinians on social media and the singer himself (hat tip: Gaia).
A new song about Palestinian resistance that was broadcasted on Palestinian Authority state television on Tuesday 2 September has elicited a barrage of mocking and jeering responses.
The song, sung by Hafez Mussa, is titled “Without Weapons” and defines “legitimate resistance” as nonviolent, unarmed and peaceful. One of the lyrics “Plant olives, plant lemons, plant apples. Do not let the oppressor in my country rest” inspired a plethora of memes by Palestinians, making fun of the song and its message. Many saw the song as discrediting other forms of resistance, except for the “resistance of planting fruits and vegetables” on their land.
Other Palestinians sarcastically replaced the lyrics of songs by armed groups such as Hamas’s Qassam Brigades – which typically glorifies armed resistance against the Israeli occupation – with lines that glorified apples and courgettes.
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Another meme depicted Israel’s Iron Dome – used to intercept rockets fired from Gaza – with the caption: The Iron Dome intercepts three fruits from the models Apple 1, Lemon 2, and Olive 3.”
In one video, a fake rocket launcher was stocked with apples while an actor played the role of a resistance fighter.
“In the name of God, this is our speedy and shattering response to the crimes of the Israeli occupation, where we will target the Ntzarim military camp with two apples. Allahu Akbar!” the actor said.
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The derisive response on social media forced the singer to issue an apology and clarification on his own Facebook page.
“I never meant to say I am against armed resistance,” Mussa wrote. “I fully support it until the last breath and until every inch of the land returns to us. The song was misunderstood, and I apologise for that.”
Mussa added that a song in support of armed resistance will be published soon.
Here is the song here.
https://youtu.be/41Ayhyl22Nc
At the time of this post, it has 64 Likes and 914 Dislikes, indicating the relative level of support for the notion of non-violence among those viewing the video.
Let’s face it: you’d have to be bananas not to realize there are plenty of bad apples among the palestinians, desiring the killing of innocent Israelis and ultimate destruction of the Jewish state.
And until more of the peace-loving ones step up and lead their people, there is little chance of any fruitful discussions towards a peaceful solution.
