Anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic hate propaganda in cartoons published in the official Palestinian Authority newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda

Special Information
Bulletin

Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
at the Center for Special Studies (C.S.S)

May , 2005

Anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic hate propaganda in cartoons published in the official Palestinian Authority newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda

Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda, the Palestinian Authority’s official daily newspaper, published an anti-Israeli anti-Semitic cartoons drawn by Omayya Joha (May 13, 2005). It depicts a Jew impaling the northern region of a map of the Arab (and Islamic) world with the flag of Israel,¹ drawing blood, while at the other end there appears to be an Arab is hanging upside down, holding a white flag.

1. The cartoon may have been drawn in reaction to the Israeli Foreign Minister’s visit to Mauritania.

Omayya Joha, a symbol of hate-mongering during the Arafat era, continues publishing her cartoons in the PA’s official newspaper and on her own Website. The cartoons are anti-Israeli and often anti-Semitic . They are popular among Arabs in general and Palestinians in particular. Omayya Joha, who identifies with Hamas, is known for her radical political opinions. Her husband was a Hamas terrorist-operative who died in a shootout with Israeli soldiers in 2003.

The publishing of anti-Semitic cartoons in Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda is another example of the anti-Semitism still appearing in the official Palestinian media (i.e., television, Internet sites). They illustrate the fact that although the PA under Abu Mazen’s chairmanship has reduced the amount of anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic hate propaganda appearing in the PA- controlled media, they nevertheless continue to disseminate it. The PA has a great deal of soul-searching to do and will have to take serious steps to eradicate such propaganda, which is an obstacle to any Israel-Palestinian dialogue and to the peace process, and diametrically opposed to the US government’s proposed road map.

The following are examples of Omayya Joha’s cartoons from both the Abu Mazen and Arafat eras:

Appendix A

Cartoons drawn by Omayya Joha which appeared in Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda, the Palestinian Authority’s official daily newspaper during April 2005 in which stereotyped Jewish figures are depicted.


	The loyal defenders of the Temple, which never existed
No caption. A Jew blowing fire from a ram’s horn to damage Al-Aqsa.

Appendix B

Anti-Semitic cartoons drawn by Omayya Joha during the Arafat era²

2. Taken from our posting on “Anti-Semitism in the contemporary Middle East,” by Dr. Reuven Erlich, April 2004, http://www.intelligence.org.il/eng/sib/4_04/as_pa.htm.

[Current Israeli Prime Minister] Ariel Sharon is seen delivering a speech about peace. His tongue, however, is in the form of a snake, a classic anti-Semitic symbol of the Jews (from Al-Hayyat al-Jadeeda, December 20, 2003).

A cartoon (from her Internet site) combining anti-Semitism and advocating suicide bombing attacks against Israel. The inscription above the arrow reads “suicide bombing attacks” and is stuck deep in the mouth of the Jewish snake to choke and kill it.

A cartoon (from her Internet site), this one showing Jewish control (the snakes) of the United States.

Ariel Sharon sitting in a bowl overflowing with blood (Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda, April 22, 2003).

Appendix C

Vicious anti-Israeli cartoons from Omayya Joha’s Internet site³

3. From www.omayya.com, May 16, 2005. The original date of their posting is unknown, but at least some of them are from the Arafat era.


A poor Palestinian roasted on an Israeli-turned spit. The flames read “the economic situation.”	Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon falling into flames shaped like the map of “ Palestine.”

An Israeli soldier who has chopped off a Palestinian’s foot. A bloody hand is held up before the camera lens and the solider is saying “No photographs.”