‘How many Jews did Mama kill…?’
Children on Palestinian TV

Published: 27 March 2007
Briefing Number 192



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This Briefing contains excerpts of an interview with the children of Palestinian suicide bomber Rim Al-Riyashi, which was broadcast on Palestinian Al-Aqsa TV on 8 March 2007 . On 14 January 2004 , Al Riyashi blew herself up, killing five Israelis at the same time. According to news reports, Al-Rihashi's daughter, Dhoha, is now 4 years old. Her son, Muhammad, is about 6 years old. On the video published by MEMRI, they look around this age. For more see MEMRI Briefing 1503, on www.memri.org .

Interviewer: “Let's talk with the two children of the jihad-fighting martyrdom-seeker Rim Al-Riyashi, Dhoha and Muhammad. Dhoha, you love Mama, right? Where did Mama go?”

Dhoha: “To paradise”

Interviewer: “What did Mama do?”

Dhoha: “She committed martyrdom”

Interviewer: “She killed Jews, right?”

Interviewer: “How many did she kill, Muhammad?”

Muhammad: “Huh?”

Interviewer: “How many Jews did Mama kill?”

Muhammad: “This many….”

Interviewer: “How many is that?”

Muhammad: “Five”

Interviewer: “Do you love Mama? Do you miss Mama? Where is Mama, Muhammad?”

Muhammad: “In paradise”

Interviewer: “Dhoha, what would you like to recite for us?”

Dhoha: “In the name of Allah the merciful the compassionate: ‘when come the help of Allah, and victory, and you see people entering the religions of Allah in troops, then celebrate the praise of your Lord, and ask his forgiveness, for he is ever ready to show mercy'”

Interviewer: What else would you like to recite? You have read the surah, ‘when comes the help of Allah and victory'. What would you like to recite for us now?”

Dhoha: “Mama Rim”

Interviewer: “Recite the poem ‘Mama Rim' for us. Recite anything. What would you like to recite?

Interviewer: “Muhammad, do you know how to recite?”

Muhammad: “Yes”

Interviewer: “Go on then, recite something for us, what would you like to recite?”

Dhoha: “I just remembered”

Muhammad: “I am in kindergarten”

Interviewer: “Are you doing well in kindergarten?”

Muhammad: “Yes”

Dhoha: “I am in kindergarten, I want to tell”

Interviewer: “Go on then, tell us. You're in kindergarten too? Are you in kindergarten, Dhoha? In kindergarten or in school?”

Dhoha: “In kindergarten”

Interviewer: “That's great”

Muhammad: “I'm in kindergarten too”

Interviewer: “You're in kindergarten too”

Dhoha: “I want to talk about kindergarten, I want to talk”

Interviewer: “What would you like to recite for us? Have you heard the poem ‘Mama Rim'? Go on then, recite it for us”

Dhoha: “Rim, you are a fire bomb”

Interviewer: “Go on, recite it”

Dhoha: “Your children and submachine gun are your motto”

Interviewer: “Muhammad, go ahead and recite”

Muhammad: “I'm in kindergarten”

Beyond Images comments

•  Israelis can be forgiven for wondering whether peace will ever be possible with a society which permits the manipulation and brainwashing of small children in this way.

•  Supporters of Palestinian national rights always stress the importance of improving the lives of Palestinian children. We would not disagree with that. But these supporters cannot turn a blind eye to the damaged lives of Palestinian children being trained to glorify terrorism.

Related resources

Beyond Images Briefing 104 – ‘Sweets on the streets – the glorification of terror in Palestinian society'

The website of MEMRI – www.memri.org

The website of Palestinian Media Watch – www.pmw.org.il