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Israeli-backed PR campaign promotes Arafat "face of terror" By Ellis Shuman December 12, 2001 |
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Hundreds of posters are being circulated around the world featuring a large, full-face photo of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. A closer examination of the picture reveals that it is actually a mosaic composed of thousands of little photographs depicting terrorist attack scenes. The caption on the bottom of the poster reads, "What You See is What You Get." The poster, according to ynet, is being distributed to pro-Israel organizations, both Jewish and non-Jewish, in North America and Europe. Officials in Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs claim they are "not involved in distributing the poster." Diplomatic sources told ynet that the "Foreign Ministry encourages private bodies to promote independent public relations initiatives, because there is a need for as many powers as possible on the front lines of the PR campaign at this time." Despite the Foreign Ministry denial, the distribution abroad is being organized by public relations people working on behalf of Israel, Ha'aretz reported. In its declaration on December 4 that the Palestinian Authority was a "terror-supporting entity," Israel's cabinet clearly stated that "the Israeli information campaign will focus on Arafat's responsibility for the terrorism emanating form the areas under his control." A person involved in the public relations campaign told ynet that "the horror show of Arafat's interview with Channel One television a few days ago just strengthens the difficult feeling that is captured by the poster. We are dealing with, in the end, a terrorist," he said. MK Ahmad Tibi (Ta-al) said, in response to the poster, "I think there is a difference between the stand of the Foreign Minister and that of his office, which is distributing a poster that is nothing other than personal incitement." Tibi said the poster was a continuation of the campaign to "delegitimize Arafat as a leader" and that he was "sorry that the Foreign Ministry had stooped to this level." MK Issam Makhoul (Hadash) said the government "should not be playing with such puzzles and mosaics." Personal attacks on Arafat were "an attack on the peace option rather than on the terror option. Those who are hunting down Arafat and trying to delegitimize him are in fact strengthening the legitimacy of the terrorists," he said. MK Zeev Boim (Likud) said that the poster was "excellent." He added, "There is no doubt that the Foreign Ministry has, with this poster, shown the true face of Arafat, natural and without a mask."
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