PA Radio Song Glorifies Suicide Bombings Targeting Israelis

By Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik

"We are bombs when the homeland calls... We strapped ourselves with explosives... and praised Him [Allah] for the Martyrdom"

Voice of Palestine radio has broadcast a song glorifying suicide bombings targeting Israelis. The song on the official Palestinian Authority radio station was played two days after the PA was granted observer status at the UN, and included these words: "We are bombs... the enemies were beheaded... Grieve ot, Mother, shed no tears over my torn flesh... heroic men who mock death... We praised the Lord, and set out for Martyrdom (Shahada). We strapped ourselves with explosives, and trusted in Allah... Onward men, on the roads to glory."*

The song glorified Martyrdom (*Shahada* - death for Allah) praising Allah for the opportunity to die for Him: "We trusted in [Allah] the Merciful and praised Him for the Martyrdom ( Shahada)"

The song presented suicide bombings that killed Israelis as worthy Islamic religious deeds. The song described leaving for the suicide bombing with the words: "We praised the Lord, and set out for Shahada." According to Islamic belief, Shahada - Martyrdom death for Allah - is a lofty achievement. The Shahid - the Martyr - is rewarded by Allah with Paradise. Since suicide bombings are portrayed as a way to achieve *Shahada, killing Israelis in suicide attacks is presented in the song as the fulfillment of Allah's will.

Palestinian Media Watch has documented the PA policy of promoting Martyrdom death for Allah.

Another religious component in the song was the call to "sacrifice oneself," which imitated the language of the Muslim call to prayer:

From the Muslim call to prayer:

"Allah Akbar (Allah is Greater)... Come to prayer"

From the song:

"Allah Akbar (Allah is Greater)... Come to self-sacrifice"

The following is the transcript of the song on official PA radio Voice of Palestine:

Introductory narration of song: "We have accepted [our] death, so that Jerusalem will return We are bombs, friends, when the homeland calls My heart, with fury, exploded and scattered The shrapnel of this life flew and the enemies were beheaded Grieve not, Mother, shed no tears over my torn flesh Gather [my] bones, Mother, return them to the earth..."

Palestinian singer, Abu Arab: "Allah Akbar (Allah is Greater)! If you summon: "Come to self-sacrifice" You will meet heroic men who mock death... We praised the Lord, and set out for Martyrdom (Shahada) We strapped ourselves with explosives, and trusted in Allah Carry the load, heroes, show disaster to the settler Neither day nor night will be sweet for him - until he leaves us. Raise your fire. Raise! Burn the settler with it. For the sake of Jerusalem and our holy place We strapped ourselves with explosives We trusted in [Allah] the Merciful and praised Him for the Martyrdom (Shahada) Onward, onward, men, on the roads to glory... We praised the Lord, and set out for Martyrdom (Shahada) We strapped on the explosives, and trusted in Allah." [PA radio Voice of Palestine, Dec. 1, 2012]