By Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook

Introduction

While the Palestinian Authority (PA) focuses on the West Bank and Gaza in international forums, to its own people delegitimizing Israel's existence as a state continues to be the cornerstone of its ideology. Two recent broadcasts on official PA television reinforced this hate message, presenting Israelis as killers and thieves who "stole" Arab land to create the state, and promoting the symbol of the "key" - the claim to be the rightful owners of all of Israel.

The first is from a so-called "historical" TV series depicting events before and during Israel's War of Independence in 1948. The daily broadcasts distort history, presenting Israelis as well armed evil soldiers fighting with British support against valiant Arabs defending their villages. The seven Arab armies that attacked Israel are not shown. In one of the many vicious libels in the series, actors portray Israeli soldiers murdering an infant in cold blood after destroying his family's village. See picture above.

To see this video online, click here

The second is through a cultural program in which dancers carry giant "keys" on their backs. Though burdened by the weight, they slowly dance. The "key" symbolizes the PA's claim to ownership of all of Israel and its plan to "return". See picture below.

To see this video online, click here