Hamas Uses Mickey Mouse to Push Islamic Supremacy

By Julie StahlCNSNews.com

Jerusalem Bureau ChiefMay 07, 2007

Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - Hamas television is using the image of the popular American cartoon figure Mickey Mouse to teach Palestinian children to hate America and Israel and to promote the idea that Islam should rule the world, an Israeli research institute said.

The human-sized, costumed Mickey Mouse look-alike, complete with squeaky voice, is called Farfur. He and his co-host, a young girl named Saraa, appear weekly on the official Hamas television station, Al-Aksa TV, as part of a children's program called "Tomorrow's Pioneers." Farfur and Saraa teach children about the importance of daily prayers and drinking milk, the Palestinian Media Watch said.

They also take every opportunity to indoctrinate the young viewers with teachings of Islamic supremacy, hatred of Israel and the U.S., and support of "resistance" (terrorism), PMW said.

PMW Director Itamar Marcus said his group had contacted the Walt Disney Company about the use of its character but had not yet received a reply. It is ironic that Hamas is using an American cartoon character against America, he said. In one program that aired on April 16, Farfur tells children that they are laying the "cornerstone" for Islamic world domination and must therefore pray five times a day in a mosque.

The two TV characters, in referring to Palestine, make it clear that they are talking about a state that includes all of the West Bank, Gaza and Israel.

"Our beloved children may say that we had glory [in the past], and we had culture, and we Muslims had greatness and respect. But with the will of Allah, we, tomorrow's pioneers, will restore the glory of this nation," Saraa says.

Farfur says that tomorrow's pioneers "will liberate Al-Aksa, with Allah's will, and we will liberate Iraq, with Allah's will, and we will liberate the Muslim countries, invaded by murderers."

In another episode, Saraa issues a religious warning, which PMW, says is "striking" considering the young age of the viewers. Saraa cautions the children that they will have to answer to Allah on judgment day for what they did or did not do for the Al Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem and for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

"I remind you that Al-Aksa and the prisoners are a responsibility on our shoulders, and Allah will ask us on Resurrection Day what we gave for their sake," she said.

Marcus said the message catches Palestinian children off guard, at a time when they are relating to a "friendly, wholesome character." It comes across with such "candy coating" it can "seep very deep into their consciousness," he said.

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