Hamas and its Mickey Mouse Approach to Martyrdom

In what is surely a low point in children's television programming, the Hamas-affiliated al-Aqsa channel aired the last episode of its program "Tomorrow's Pioneers" on Friday, showing the character, Farfur, being beaten to death by an "Israeli agent". Farfur was a controversial Mickey Mouse look-alike character who frequently made anti-US and anti-Israeli comments and encouraged children to martyrdom in the fight against Israel.

In the final episode an actor said to be an Israeli agent tries to buy the land of the squeaky-voiced Mickey Mouse look-alike. Farfur brands the Israeli a "terrorist" and is beaten to death. The show's host, a young girl named Saraa concludes, ""Yes, my dear children, we have lost our dearest friend, Farfour. Farfour was martyred while defending his land, the land of his fathers and his forefathers. He was martyred at the hand of the criminals, the murderers, the murderers of innocent children, who killed Iman Hijo, Muhammad Al-Dura, and many others." (to see the complete program with English subtitles, click here).

I can only imagine how the children who watched this final program felt seeing their hero killed before their eyes. Undoubtedly, the intent was to influence them towards greater hatred towards Israelis. Just what the Middle East needs...more hatred. To use children's programming in this way is despicable and unjustifiable. Western leaders who propose that Hamas should be treated as a legitimate organization that must be included in peace negotiations should seriously consider whether this is the kind of group that they really want to see in power anywhere. This is not a group that respects human rights or human life. Hamas is a terrorist organization and as such, cannot be trusted with the safe-keeping of anyone's children. Farfur is a prime example of what Hamas thinks children are really good for; martyrdom.