THE PALESTINIAN MEDIA AND ANTI-AMERICANISM: A CASE STUDY By Hillel Frisch*

This article examines a case study of Palestinian media attitudes toward the United States by analyzing one typical week's coverage by al-Hayat al-Jadida, the most "official" Palestinian daily. The author's analysis shows that while articles relating to the U.S. overwhelmingly condemn its regional policies and usually only reprint foreign writers critical of U.S. policy, the newspaper's anti-Americanism tends to be somewhat veiled and pales in comparison to treatment of .

Broadly speaking, there are two basic Through such a normative prism, it is reasons for growing anti-Americanism difficult for to acknowledge amongst Arab Palestinians. The first is that the United States forced Israel to that Arab Palestinians had little affinity to vacate the Sinai in 1956; refrained all the democratic and liberal values the these years from moving its embassy to United States represents; the second is Jerusalem; consistently regarded the that they often had divergent interests. territories beyond the1967 armistice lines Arguably the most popular Arab as "occupied territories" and the Palestinian leader of all times, Hajj Amin settlements there as illegal; and has since al-Husayni, had much to say on pan- the Madrid peace process, pressured Arabism, pan-Islamism and local Israel to "roll back," as well as nationalism in his writings. By contrast, engineered two major offers of a he said virtually nothing on democracy Palestinian state on good terms in 2000 at and liberalism, allying with Nazi the Camp David talks and in the Clinton Germany.(1) Yasir Arafat, founder of Plan. Most recently, the United States has resurgent , also repeatedly saved Arafat from a more never indicated any views that drew him severe siege or expulsion by Israel and to the American vision of civilization.(2) pressed Israel on several occasions into In recent decades, the main new returning to the pre-September 2000 development in Palestinian political lines. thought has been the rise of a radical Divergence over interests and Islamist movement. The proportion ideology between Palestinians and the favoring liberal standpoints has remained United States, of course, extends far minute, as shown by surveys conducted beyond the Palestinian-Israeli arena. Both by Palestinian research centers. Palestinian officials and the media take a In such a normative and ideological radical pan-Arab stance on almost all setting, there are no shock absorbers that issues related to the Arab world. The can in any way soften the effects of basic view that Western imperialists are substantial differences between the bent today, as they have been in the past, policies of the United States and the on dividing and subordinating the Arab Palestinians' worldview, despite the world, and that the United States leads Palestinian realization that only the this campaign is as prevalent in Fatah as United States can deliver for them the it is in the more radical factions. This is prospect of the state.

74 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 4 (December 2003) The Palestinian Media and Anti-Americansim: A Case Study why Arafat and the PLO backed Saddam as America today, her allies and Hussein in the 1990-1 Gulf War. protégés, the Zionists and others, Almost nothing the United States does necessitate further sacrifices from in the Middle East is regarded as above our side and closing ranks, oh suspicion. In this sense the Palestinian Muslims, and we will be press is little different from its Syrian and victorious.… By closing ranks the (former) Iraqi counterparts. Adherence to prophet succeeded in overcoming the pan-Arab formula became clear in the Rome, the strongest state, which course of al-Hayat al-Jadida's coverage is equivalent to America today, during the first week of February, which without the fall of even one is subsequently analyzed in this paper. Muslim shahid [Martyr]… The Prophet succeeded, through ASSESSING PALESTINIAN ANTI- Muslim unity and arousing faith, AMERICANISM: A in overcoming the America of METHODOLOGICAL NOTE then, just as we will defeat It is not surprising that under these America, as long as it supports ideological and political conditions, our enemy, as long as it adheres to groups such as MEMRI or Palestinian its positions against our people, Media Watch find numerous and rabid our issue and our holy places, and displays of anti-Americanism in the against our people and its official and officially supported leadership, as long as it adheres to Palestinian media to translate and these wicked positions. We will disseminate. defeat her, may it be the will of For example, a feeling that the United Allah. We see America as the States' involvement in Palestinian politics number one enemy, as long as it reflects an historic and bitter clash of supports our enemy. Aren't we civilizations may be found in a sermon killed by American planes? Are broadcast on the Palestinian Authority our homes not being destroyed by (PA) television station on September 5, American tanks? Are we not 2003 by Ibrahim Madiras: being bombed by American missiles...(3) If we go back 1400 years in time, we find that history is repeating Where official Palestinian sentiment itself, worshipers of Allah. The lies in the context of post-war Iraq is Prophet Mohammed… was equally clear. In his piece entitled besieged by two powers, Persia in "Shaa'hid and the Shahid" [The Witness the east and Rome in the west. and the Martyr--a play on words], one These represent the Soviet Union writer in the Palestinian daily al-Ayyam and America of today.… Persia condemned Iraq's Shi'a religious leaders fell first in the east, just as Russia for standing on the sidelines when fell first in the east, and America morally they should join the ranks of the will fall, may it be Allah's will, martyrs in killing American soldiers to just as Rome fell in the west. fight against Iraq's occupation: However [the fall of] Rome necessitated further challenges, There is consensus in Iraq that closing of ranks and Muslim American and British forces sacrifices. The battle with Rome, symbolize military occupation of in which its power ceased, Iraqi territories... Recent activities necessitated challenges and against [American] forces resistance from the Muslims, just including helicopter interception,

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 4 (December 2003) 75

Hillel Frisch

bombing of command centers and Towers to portray Iraqis and Palestinians convoys and attacking political as the victims of United States policies targets undoubtedly prove that the and actions, in an obvious and deliberate resistance is getting stronger. And twist of history. that there are many reasons, The cartoon of two smoldering towers foremost among them the of "Iraq" and "Palestine" for example, occupation's fascism and cruelty, appearing in late 2003, was so well which helps the flow of many to received after it was printed in al-Quds, the Iraqi resistance... The Khawza that it was reprinted two days later in al- [Shiite religious institutions] Hayat al-Jadida, the semi-official admit publicly--and cannot do daily. Other cartoons were copied from otherwise--that the U.S. forces are other Arab dailies. For instance, in one a invading forces, but they [the fearful Uncle Sam runs away in terror Khawza institutions] offer unclear being chased by the date "September and unconvincing ways for the 11."(5) In another, the U.S. response to 9- long run concerning the attitude 11 is said to be immoral and towards them [the U.S. forces]. imperialistic: the Twin Towers are The Khawza Shiite institutions try depicted over a mass of dead bodies, to achieve historic benefit from victims of American "imperialism."(6) the presence of these forces... Another variation of these included the even if this involves participation twin towers that form a hammer which in the Ruling Council, which is attacks the Muslim-Arab world in a appointed by the American cartoon marking the second anniversary Governor!!! of the attack, with the text reading: Are the [institutions of the] "September 11--the day of the greatest Khawza capable of maintaining conspiracy against the Arabs and this dangerous balance?! Are they Muslims."(7) capable of reaping substantial Though such media items might be achievements... in this way; after numerous and emanate from the official all, the people of the Shiite and semi-official media, they do not Congregation historically have necessarily indicate the intensity of anti- been Martyrs [Shahids] and view American sentiments and their the Martyrdom [Shahada]--since propagation. The method of random their first Martyr [Shahid], Ali, as choice still leaves the possibility (weak as a sacred obligation. Can the it is given the absence of democratic and Khawza convince the Shiites to liberal practices in the PA) of different [merely] witness [Shaa'hid] the and competing views of the United States increasingly fierce armed being expressed as well. resistance due to the increased Methodologically, and more important American repression and normatively, the appearance of specific humiliation of the entire Iraqi items may indicate intention but not people... Will the Khawza keep overall impact of these articles, news silent and [merely] witness items and cartoons. The effect of an anti- [Shaa'hid], leaning toward the American article once a week is different American occupier in the middle than such an article on a daily basis; of a sea of Martyrs [Shahids]?(4) different weights must be given according to where it appears in the Palestinian anti-Americanism is also newspaper. What must be done then is to reflected in cartoons. Particularly striking engage in content analysis of the media are a series using the image of the Twin over time. The sample for the following

76 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 4 (December 2003)

The Palestinian Media and Anti-Americansim: A Case Study analysis is the first seven days of Arab and Palestinian articles and news February 2003 of al-Hayat al-Jadida, items tended to reflect the more hostile which is the most "official" newspaper of civilization perspective. Most neutral the three Palestinian dailies that also were short new items usually reported by include al-Quds and al-Ayyam. foreign new wire services. Considerations of space (measured by square inch) or GENERAL FINDINGS placement in the newspaper (headlines, Counting articles versus engaging in a front versus back pages etc.) did not have subtle content analysis of the paper's any impact on the general findings. coverage of the United States yields Nor is anti-American sentiment, slightly different pictures. A quantitative prevalent as it may be, the major theme account clearly demonstrates a strong of the Palestinian media. The reason is anti-American bias. Over three-quarters simple: hatred of Israel is by far its all- of the forty-nine news items and articles consuming focus. Of the approximately regarding U.S. policy and actions printed 150 articles and news items that appear in al-Hayat al-Jadida during that week daily in al-Hayat al-Jadida (minus were anti-American. Only 10 percent culture, sports and business items) over either objectively represented the one-third are devoted to hatred of Israel. incumbent U.S. administration's By contrast, there were a total of only 49 perspective on Iraqi affairs--the issue news items and articles relating to the most of these news items addressed United States over one week--which during that week--or related positively to equals one day's coverage of Israel. American considerations or actions. The difference is also qualitative. On Articles on the United States by Author's Origin and Content(8) Position Foreign Arab Palestinian Israel Total PRO 5 5 ANTI 21 6 10 37 NEUTRAL 4 2 1 7

However, taking into consideration the Israel, almost all the coverage is type of criticism that was aired in these vociferously anti-Israeli. By contrast; articles yields a slightly different picture. coverage on the United States is more Overall anti-American sentiment may be variegated even though it is divided into two types. The first is overwhelmingly negative as well. The civilizational--a perspective that assumes contrast is highlighted best in comparing an innate enmity between the United the two headlines, which appeared on States and its objectives with those of the February 1, the first issue analyzed. The Palestinians in particular and Arabs in headline regarding Israel was entitled general. The second type is instrumental-- "The Leadership Emphasizes its those criticisms related to specific Adherence to the Choice of Peace policies of specific administrations. Despite Israeli Arrogance (Ghatrasa) and During the period under consideration, Barbarism." The headline concerning the newspaper mostly aired articles of the United States policy was more veiled: latter, milder variety. "The President [Arafat] criticizes the Generally speaking, the articles from Silence of the International Community foreign sources, most of which were Regarding the Israeli Government's translations of articles from the United Infringement of the Accords." In the body States and Western press, were mild in of the news item it becomes clear that tone and substance.(9) By contrast, the what was meant was an alleged U.S.

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 4 (December 2003) 77

Hillel Frisch criticism of Israel: "The President asked, for such a policy within the United ‘How could…Israel be allowed to violate Nations. One could safely assume that agreements signed at the White House?'" had a time period in which the United Even when the headlines later in the States was involved in mediation between week regarding Iraq clearly expressed a Israel and the Palestinians been chosen, position opposing moves by the United more Palestinian commentators would States, they were still mild in comparison have written on the United States as well. to coverage of Israel. On February 5, a Most of the articles on the subject main headline read: "The War Plan: The were taken from the foreign press. As a Occupation of Iraq and Its Division into general rule, they reflected a list of Three States." It is extremely doubtful distinguished analysts writing in equally whether United States officials ever prominent newspapers. Four articles by expressed such a desire, let alone John Alterman, head of the Middle East construed it as a policy objective of the program at the Center for Strategic and U.S. government. Casting aspersions that International Studies in Washington, the United States was eager to divide Iraq David Francis in the Christian Science into three "duwaylat" (the pejorative term Monitor, Nicholas Kristoff culled from for a balkanized state in pan-Arab the International Herald Tribune and rhetoric) fits well into the "Sykes-Picot" Patrick Seale's "The American Empire on prism through which so many American the Eve of a Strike," appeared on the moves in the Middle East are construed. same page in the February 1 edition. All The main headline appearing on February were critical of U.S. policies in Iraq. On 6 was entitled "Most of the States in the February 2, it was the turn of Paul Security Council are Not Convinced by Kennedy, a well-known professor of ‘Proof' of Powell against Iraq." Quotation history from Yale University, to argue on marks in Arabic as well as in other the basis of historical precedent against languages, is a means of casting doubt on getting involved in Iraq. Three other the word within them. In this case doubt articles, which appeared in the middle was being expressed regarding the quality section of the newspaper, two by of the evidence Powell presented. Americans, one by a Spanish analyst, Anti-Americanism is also less blatant concurred. Geoffrey Kemp, another because the top Palestinian leadership, prominent American policy analyst, took Arafat and the personalities involved in a mildly anti-administration approach the international negotiations such as Abu following day. On February 4, the paper Ala'a, Abu Mazen, Sa'ib Ariqat, Nabil translated six articles authored by Abu Rudayna, and Yasir Abd al-Rabbu Americans and European analysts and refrain as a general rule from disparaging thinkers. The piece by Michael Walzer, a or condemning the United States. For the well-known political philosopher, could media, this effectively means that the be considered mild, even bordering on considerable criticism of the United neutral. Walzer, though opposed to direct States does not often appear as a leading United States intervention, called upon headline or on the front page. the international community to acknowledge the threat Iraq posed and THE USE OF THE FOREIGN PRESS called for a strong international authority Al-Hayat al-Jadida relies mainly on to impose all sanctions short of war, foreign and Arab sources in its coverage including military means, against on non-Palestinian affairs. The overriding Saddam. James Zoghby, the veteran Arab issue during the week surveyed was Iraq, lobbyist in Washington, authored one of particularly United States preparations for the more militant articles. war and Powell's attempt to curry support

78 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 4 (December 2003)

The Palestinian Media and Anti-Americansim: A Case Study

The two pro-administration news These almost neutral perceptions items aired in the newspaper were both contrasted sharply with a long, bitterly connected to senior administrative critical article written by Muhammad officials. On February 6, a half-page Hasanin Heikal, a prominent journalist interview with Condoleezza Rice was and confidant of former Egyptian leader culled from the Egyptian al-Ahram. A Gamal Abdel-Nasser, which appeared in lengthy article written by Colin Powell the newspaper on February 1, 2003. stating the administration's position Identifying the United States' wars as appeared the next day. imperial and wasteful, he claims that the All in all, the newspaper's choice of Arabs can react to such imperialism and articles in the international press, though hegemony in three of four ways, all with biased against the administration, was dubious effectiveness. The first is by probably little different from the fare extending the arm of friendship, a presented in the average European strategy which has become impossible newspaper. However skewed, it was since 1948. Equally implausible is nevertheless impressive in quality and reacting by outright confrontation. The even slightly variegated. At least two of third is slowly sliding into a confrontation the other types of coverage under review, and the fourth, the most plausible, is articles authored by Arabs and the news sweating it out. items, presented a less benevolent Even the latter alternative he argued perspective regarding the United States was difficult to achieve since the United and its interests in the area. States is so intermeshed in the affairs of the Arab world. In short, the Arabs are in THE ARAB AND PALESTINIAN a difficult predicament. Heikal's analysis NEWS SOURCES of the United States is unflattering, to say To be exact, the only Palestinian the least. The United States, he claimed, commentators who wrote on United runs its affairs like a business, bereft of States policy in Iraq dealt with it solely soul and dignity and driven exclusively through the prism of Palestinian interests. by the calculation of costs and benefits. Nabil Amer, the former Minister of He offers as proof its treatment of the late Parliamentary Affairs and a former shah of Iran. Heikal claimed that the confidante of Yasir Arafat argued that the United States drains the Third World of war was likely to increase the Palestinian its finest brains without investing a cent predicament in the face of an even greater and exploits its immigrants to death as imbalance of power between a state slaves. Politically, the U.S. does not supported by an even more powerful recognize borders and is forever engaged superpower and a national movement. He in conducting wars. argued that only reform and real On the following day, former institution-building will address this Egyptian Field Marshal Halim Abu- increasing imbalance--an obvious jab to Ghazzaleh claimed that the U.S. goal was his former mentor, Arafat. He warned not the mere removal of Saddam but to that the Israelis were likely to try to use create a state that will be under its own the time they gained by the focus on Iraq control. In another article entitled "The to create facts on the ground inimical to State of the Union…or the State of Iraq," Palestinian interests. Amer argued that Ahmed Umrabi tried verifying who was only putting an end to the armed conflict the real aggressor: "You would think that would serve Palestinian interests during Saddam had encircled the United States this difficult experience. Hasan al-Kashif by land, air and sea! Is Iraq really presented a similar argument. threatening?" Obviously, he concluded, hidden agendas such as Iraqi oil, Israel,

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 4 (December 2003) 79

Hillel Frisch and the resolve to maintain the present authored by a resident in the area. He, state of Arab weakness were the however, is not Arab. determining factors behind the U.S. drive against Iraq and Saddam Hussein. THE OFFICIALLY On a slightly different issue, a ORCHESTRATED ANTI- professor from Qatar in an article AMERICAN CAMPAIGN published on February 3 reacted to Colin One can safely assume that only a Powell's statement regarding American small, though perhaps influential, elite plans of democratization in the region by read the long articles by Western, Arab or asking how the United States was only local Palestinian commentators, which willing to spend $29 million to account for most of the news items democratize the Arab world compared to surveyed. This is perhaps why it is so the billions it expended on Israel. important to take into account the nature Powell's initiative also placed the Arab of the short news items, particularly those intellectual in a catch-22 situation, the focusing on Palestinian involvement in author maintained. He ought to support developments related to Iraq. These democratization but how can he support it suggest not only the prevalence of anti- when it is seen as a directive from Americanism in Palestinian political outside, especially when it is part of a circles, but its propagation by the official larger American imperial plan in the Arab leadership. In fact, it was the Palestinian region to force the Arabs to abandon the Authority and the PLO who, in rights of the Palestinian people? Look, he organizing "the street" or "the masses," argued, what happened to the Palestinian caused anti-Americanism to take on a leadership which placed its trust in the rabidly radical coloration. Americans. Only deep reform of On February 4, secondary students individual Arab regimes and Arab organized what was described as a collective action could counter "massive" procession in northern Gaza in imperialism in general and American solidarity of the Iraqi people. An imperialism in specific. accompanying photograph showed There were also Arab analysts who demonstrators with posters of Saddam wrote milder articles. A Saudi Arabian Hussein. A similar news item covered a political scientist could not understand demonstration in Qalqilya organized by how Uncle Sam could stop the zakat the Popular Committee of Support for (charity) from flowing to groups accused Iraq. In the context of Palestinian media of terrorism and also claimed the United behavior, the very fact that the newspaper States had accused Islam of terrorism. covered these events reflected official Khairi Mansur in his "America… and the approval. After the capture of Saddam Forty Noble Souls" praises the forty Hussein, for example, al-Hayat al-Jadida Nobel Prize winners who had decided "to did not cover much larger demonstrations stand up against the madness in the White that occurred in Gaza. On February 5, the House since 9-11." They are warning "of same day in which the headline "The War the follies of going into war without Plan: The Occupation of Iraq and Its assessing its ramifications. Why should Division into Three States" appeared, a the United States citizen think that the lengthy news item reported that Interior generals are any smarter in strategy than Minister Hani al-Hasan warned that these men of such intellectual stature?" preparations must be made to confront Buhan Salih, joint prime minister in the the difficulties that Palestinians will face regional Kurdish government in Iraq "in the wake of the aggression on Iraq." wrote the only article in support of war He was addressing the graduation ceremony of a military training program

80 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 4 (December 2003)

The Palestinian Media and Anti-Americansim: A Case Study in Ramallah. The affair was organized by confessional and weak states as a the Commission of Political and National preparatory move in doing much the Guidance for the PA's security forces. same in other Arab states (the Sykes- On the same day, the National Center Picot paradigm), drawing away scientists for Research and Documentation, an and controlling the world, and finally, official PA body, organized, in finishing off the Palestinian problem conjunction with a private research group according to Zionist desires. The mayor a roundtable to discuss events in Iraq. of the town spoke as well. Needless to The newspaper reported that "political say, both officials would have never speakers and jurists emphasized that Iraq attended without Arafat's approval. After and Palestine face the same enemy and all, they are beholden to him for their that their resolve and steadfastness in the positions. face of aggression is the common denominator in bringing about the defeat CONCLUSION of the enemies of the Arab nation, The Palestinian leadership, based on renewing their call to strengthening the analysis of the semi-official al-Hayat al- spirit of steadfastness and resistance and Jadida, is clearly anti-American. Probably [the obligation] of the Arab masses in the most striking finding is the difference bearing their historical responsibility in in the intensity of the expression of anti- blocking the aggression on sisterly Iraq." Americanism between the PLO and the On the following day, it was the turn PA on the one hand, and the newspaper of the National and Islamic Forces, the itself on the other. The newspaper tries to loose coalition between Fatah, the present a variety of viewpoints although and the Islamic Jihad, which called for a they are hardly balanced. This is reflected procession in Ramallah in support of Iraq in its extensive use of articles appearing and against the aggression. They in the foreign press. Unfortunately, the condemned the vicious campaign of small airing of opinions expressing a preparations for aggression against Iraq. deviation from the common anti- When the procession did take place, American content of most of these Sakhar Habash, a veteran member of the articles appears in the most "elitist" type Fatah Central Committee, the keynote of journalistic writing--the long analytical speaker, described the U.S. president as articles that are probably the least read. "no more than an oil merchant and a Even so, the overall message of the trader in the blood of peoples." "The newspaper remains anti-American. Iraqis were able to win through Suffice to note that throughout its steadfastness 12 years ago and they will coverage, the term used to describe the do so now," he promised. approaching United States campaign In Qalqilya at a conference held under against Iraq was the "American the slogan "In steadfastness and aggression ('udwan)." resistance we will defeat the plot of Palestinian anti-Americanism was far American and Zionist aggression against more prominent in institutions related to Palestine and Iraq," the governor of the the PA, especially those with a mass base province, Mustafa al-Maliki, condemned or deep reach into Palestinian society the American attack on Iraq and the such as Fatah or the security forces. Not double standard concerning weapons of only do these organs reflect anti- mass destruction and Israel. He produced Americanism, they propagate it. That a long list of America's "true" motives these institutions are related to the PA, behind the aggression against Iraq. They which enjoys direct and indirect U. S. included: stealing Iraqi oil, protecting aid--and, in the case of the Palestinian Israel, dividing Iraq into three security forces, have even been the

Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 4 (December 2003) 81

Hillel Frisch beneficiaries of U.S. professional Media Watch Bulletin, September 11, training--has had no bearing on their 2003. actions or positions. 4. Al-Ayyam October 27, 2003. Quoted in , "Palestinian Incitement *Hillel Frisch is a senior lecturer in to Kill and Hate Americans," Palestinian political studies and Middle East history Media Watch Bulletin, November 5, at Bar-Ilan University. He is author of 2003. Countdown to Statehood: Palestinian 5. Quoted in Itamar Marcus, "PA Uses State Formation in the and Twin Tower Image to Mock USA," Gaza (State University of New York Palestinian Media Watch Bulletin, Press, 1998) and many articles on September 16, 2003. Palestinian and Arab politics in leading 6. PA official daily al-Hayat al-Jadida, political science and area journals such September 11, 2002, reprinted from the as Journal of Peace Research, Journal of UAE's al-Khalij. Also see Al-Hayat al- Strategic Studies, International Journal Jadida, September 11, 2002, reprinted of Middle East Studies and others. from Kuwait's al-Watan. Both quoted in Itamar Marcus, "PA Uses Twin Tower NOTES Image to Mock USA." 1. For an analysis of Husayni's writings 7. Al-Hayat al-Jadida, September 13, see the author's "Territorializing a 2002. Another cartoon of this variation Universal Religion: The Evolution of can be found in Al-Quds, September 11, Nationalist Symbols in Palestinian 2002 and al-Hayat al-Jadida, September Fundamentalism," Canadian Review of 13, 2002. All quoted in Itamar Marcus, Studies in Nationalism, vol. 21, nos. 1-2 "PA Uses Twin Tower Image to Mock (1994), pp. 45-50. USA." 2. See the chapter on Fatah in Ziyad Abu 8. Author's analysis of Al-Hayat al- 'Amer's Usul al-Harakat al-Siyasiya Fi Jadida, February 1-7, 2003. Quta' Ghazza 1948-1967 [The Origins of 9. In distinguishing between the foreign the Political Movements in the Gaza Strip and Arab press, I am merely following 1948-1967], (Acco: Dar al-Aswar, 1947). common practice in states in the Middle Abu Amer is a member of the Palestinian East of distinguishing between Legislative Assembly. "foreigner" (ajnabi) and either Muslim or 3. Itamar Marcus, "Palestinian Authority Arab. Such categorization is found even Hatred of USA Continues," Palestinian on the sports pages to describe the origins of the player of the team.

82 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 4 (December 2003)