by Dr. Edy Cohen
This year, several of the television series produced to be aired during the holy month contain surprisingly positive depictions of Jews and Israel, much to the consternation of the Palestinians.
Still from Um Haroun television series, image via Twitter
BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,573, May 20, 2020
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Muslims around the
world are in the middle of celebrating the month-long holiday
of Ramadan. This year, several of the television series produced to be
aired during the holy month contain surprisingly positive depictions of
Jews and Israel, much to the consternation of the Palestinians.
During the holy month of Ramadan, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam,
adult Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. (This year is unusual as
there is debate over whether fasting is appropriate amid the coronavirus
crisis.)
A Ramadan tradition has developed over time in
which Arab Muslim families gather after breaking the fast each evening
to watch television shows that were produced specifically for the
holiday. The content is typically family-oriented, and each episode is
aired once during the month.
Ramadan TV is thus a hallmark of the holiest time
of the year. It is emblematic of the principles underlying the
observance of the holiday—sanctity, community, reflection, and joy.
In recent years, however, Ramadan TV has become
highly politicized. Saudi Arabia banned the broadcast of Turkish
programs, supposedly because of an over identification of young Arabs
with the shows’ protagonists. In Egypt, a drama series called Haret al-Yahud
(The Jewish Quarter) portrays Jews and Israel in a negative light and
presents a distorted history of the establishment of the Jewish state.
The plot blames Israel for conflict between Jews and Arabs and downplays
the expulsion by the Egyptian government of most of the country’s
Jewish community.
Arab governments have long understood the
potential of television and other visual media as a means of
transmitting political messages. They actively promote shows that
conform to their agendas, such as fostering negative images of political
rivals both abroad and at home. Many dramas produced in recent years,
especially in Turkey and Egypt, have featured Jewish, Israeli, and
Zionist elements for the purpose of demonizing them.
As noted, domestic enemies are targeted as well as Jews. The Egyptian government bankrolled a TV show called al-Jama’a that depicts the Muslim Brotherhood even more negatively than the Jews and Israel.
Three shows that were broadcast this year dealing with Jewish people and politics deserve particular attention.
The first, an Egyptian show called The End, is
the first science fiction series to be aired during Ramadan. It depicts
the destruction of Israel 100 years after its establishment as a result
of a war that “liberates” Jerusalem.
And what happens to Israel’s Jewish population in
the show’s universe? They “return” to the countries from which they
came—a message reiterating the antisemitic idea that Jews are foreign to
the region. Despite the fact that Egypt and Israel signed a peace
treaty 41 years ago, the culture still considers the annihilation of
Israel something to be imagined with pleasure.
In contrast to the Egyptian-produced show, the
other two series, which were produced either directly by Saudi Arabia or
with its approval, indicate a positive trend regarding attitudes toward
Israel in the Gulf States.
Um Haroun (Mother of Aaron), which depicts
the lives of Jews in the Gulf region, was seen by many as an effort to
promote normalization of relations with Israel. The first episode
illustrates the daily life of a Jewish woman who lives, as does the rest
of her community, side-by-side with her Muslim neighbors. The episode
concludes with the establishment of the State of Israel, a monumental
event that disrupts the harmony between Muslims and Jews and leads to
the murder of a Jewish resident. Despite that turn in the story, the
show portrays the Jewish community in a positive light.
The third show, Exit 7, is
similarly of Saudi origin and is also considered an effort to promote
closer ties with Israel. It features the most famous actors in the
kingdom. While it deals primarily with social issues, the first episode
contains heavy criticism of the Palestinians. One scene shows the main
character saying he does business with Israel because Israel is not
really an enemy. Hinting at the Palestinians, he says the real enemy is
someone who doesn’t appreciate you. This scene is a depiction of the
palpable existing tension between Saudis and the Palestinians.
The Palestinians, who oppose normalization with
Israel by any segment of the Arab world and consider it deeply
threatening to their cause, were enraged to see such scenes aired on
Saudi television.
This is an edited version of an article that appeared in Israel Today on May 8, 2020.
Source: https://besacenter.org/perspectives-papers/israel-ramadan-tv/
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