MEMRI Special Dispatch Series - No. 1928
May 14, 2008No. 1928

Grandfather of Hamas TV Bunny Assud Insists Tel Aviv Was a Palestinian City

Following is an excerpt from the Hamas children's show "The Pioneers of
Tomorrow," which aired on Al-Aqsa TV on May 9, 2008:
To view this clip, visit www.memritv.org/clip/en/1766.htm .

"[Tel Aviv] Was Called Tel Al-Rabi', But the Zionists and Jews Hebraicized
the Name to 'Tel Aviv'"
Assud the Bunny: "Grandpa, where did you live? In what city?"

Grandpa: "We used to live in the most beautiful place in Palestine."

Assud: "Where?"

Grandpa: "My dear, you've never seen such a place. I used to live in Tel
Al-Rabi' [the Arab word for 'spring,' which is 'aviv' in Hebrew]. What a
beautiful place. My God, when I recall Tel Al-Rabi', which the Zionists have
called..."

Assud: "There's no such place called Tel Al-Rabi'. What's the matter,
Grandpa? Have you gone senile?"

Grandpa: "I'm not senile. My head is working just fine. How can you say I'm
senile? This place was called Tel Al-Rabi', but the Zionists and Jews
Hebraicized the name to 'Tel Aviv.' Where did this 'Tel Aviv' come from? It
has been Tel Al-Rabi' for generations, on the land of Palestine, right next
to Yafa. How can you say I've gone senile? I know this. My head still works
just fine. Are you trying to confuse me? I'm not senile yet. I have
documents and proof. I have all the papers here. The documents are right
here with me. How can you say I'm senile? I have all the documents with me.
Here they are. Everything is here, from the days of the British and even
before. This is our land, as well as the fields, the trees, and the houses.
I can even show you the key. You're calling me senile? I have proof."

"It's the Fault of the School Curricula, Which Did Not Teach Us That Tel
Aviv Is In Fact Tel Al-Rabi'"

Assud: "Forgive me, Grandpa, it's not our fault. It's the fault of the
school curricula, which did not teach us that Tel Aviv is in fact Tel
Al-Rabi', and vice versa."

Grandpa: "No, my dear, take it from me. I know, and I have the papers and
the land deeds. The name Tel Al-Rabi' has been forged by the Jews and
Hebraicized to 'Tel Aviv.' They invented all these names. 'Ashdod' is, in
fact, Isdud. 'Ashkelon' is, in fact, Al-Majdal. Where did they get these
names? Al-Sab' is called 'Beer Sheva'! It's all a lie. There are all
pseudonyms. Yafa, Al-Lydd, Al-Ramla, Al-Sab' - they changed all these names
and Hebraicized them, and now they say: That's Tel Al-Rabi'? There is no
such thing. It's Tel Aviv. It's all a lie. All these names were Hebraicized
by the Jews."