When I hear the words “palestinian” and “family feud” in a news report, I assume the story is either about an honor killing or Hamas vs Fatah shenanigans.
From a board game to the main stage, a Tallahassee family got a dream opportunity to compete on Family Feud, but the Kasems were the first family in the show’s history to wear something a bit unexpected and they captured worldwide attention in the process.
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But big-time opportunity raised one big question: what to wear? For the Kasems the answer was easy.
“We knew going into the show that we wanted to represent Palestine as much as we could. Having this platform and being able to be seen by millions of viewers, we knew we wanted them to look at us,” Sabrin expressed.
So the family asked the production team if they could wear their traditional Palestinian attire.
“It was a great way to represent Palestine. Not many people know what thobe is or what a hand stitched tatrees I’m wearing now,” Mirah Abu-Laban, team member and FSU graduate said.
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The Kasems soon found themselves on the main stage, and the feedback was even better than they expected. They also mentioned how overwhelmed they were to meet Steve Harvey but when they had the chance to speak to him, they said it felt like they knew him years ago, like an old friend.
The show announced them as the best-dressed group in the history of Family Feud, but what they did not expect was the love they received from all around the world after the first episode aired.
“We’ve gotten so much love and the Tiktoks and the social media and Facebook posts,” Noor said.
The family also made a mark by ending the episode doing a Palestinian dabke behind Steve Harvey that made the final cut. A dabke is a well-known Palestinian dance that combines a line of people that interlock arms and stomp their feet together to a specific rhythm.
The Kasem said they are beyond proud that they were able to represent their country on national tv while having an experience they’ll never forget.
“We made Palestine proud,” Noor said.
No, they used their 15 seconds of fame to spread propaganda about a non-existent country, but that is not really what I want to deal with here.
You see, one of the family members is a known antisemitic, terror supporter:
Mirah AbuLaban has whitewashed terrorism, promoted incitement and spread hatred of Israel.
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On May 13, 2021, AbuLaban wrote a Facebook post thanking “resistance movements” in Gaza for sending missiles at Israel, writing: “We have nothing and no one else to defend us, so yes thank you to our resistance movements.”
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On May 12, 2021, AbuLaban shared a Facebook post that read: “… Israel is NOT under attack! Israel is simply being stopped from killing, stealing and oppressing us! See, it all started when settlers decided to take palestinain’s homes in sheikh jarrah… simply because they want to! Then they attacked people in Aqsa while praying… simply because they want to!”
The post continued: “Luckily we have the resistance movement to step in… Resistance movement is targeting the army!! Good for them!!!”
There’s more at the link, including the below, which Canary Mission has placed under the heading Spreading Hatred of Israel, but is actual antisemitism:
In the same May 13, 2021 Facebook post, AbuLaban alleged that: “Palestine is in hardship, facing a one-sided massacre and genocide…. The media is controlled by Israeli lobbyists who are trying to silence us… ”
Name a fact that will not be reported by the media, who will continue to praise the family for wearing thobes and doing the dabke.
Hat tip: Michal
