Palestine's Ma'an News Agency (MNA) is reportedly in the process of producing a TV drama series on Yasser Arafat, the late Palestinian leader. The drama will be directed by Feisal Az-Zobi and focus on the different stages of the Palestinian struggle and Arafat's contributions to it, recent press reports have indicated. MNA believes that the drama will be ready in time for Ramadan 2008, the hottest season for TV ratings.
Quoted by an Arabic newspaper, Feisal Az-Zobi said: "This is a huge job and it is an ethical one before it is an artistic job. Through it, we will show the [future] generations the suffering of the Palestinian people and their struggle in all forms against the Israeli occupation. The Israeli occupation has become a real genocide act against the Palestinian people. Arafat was an inspiration his people and the Arab people in general. He was something unique in history."
Many Arab and foreign channels have started to make contacts that would allow them to broadcast the drama, in which many Arab actors will participate. The drama has an unprecedented budget and will be made as perfect as possible, the reports suggest.
Nearly two years after his death, Arafat's spirit remains alive. He is a glorious banner and inspiration to the Palestinian people. Arafat embodied their hopes and dreams for the achievement of an independent Palestinian state. So the interest in the new TV production is understandable.
In any case, like during his life, controversy surrounds Arafat even after his demise. Asked to comment on the news about the expected TV drama, senior Fatah officials – the movement Arafat established and led until his last day – were surprised and claimed they know nothing on the issue.
It seems that we should all wait for next Ramadan….
Will the new series document Arafat's documented numerous homosexual affairs with his body guards? Or that he died of AIDS? The real miniseries would be rated triple XXX
While I am not the biggest fan of Arafat, people don't generally die OF AIDS. They die of an accompanying infection; by the time you get to that point there is no hiding that you r chronically ill. So kindly don't just post what your friends at the bar tell you!
The director said “This a huge job and it is an ethical one before it is an artistic job” so he has to be true to the Palestinian cause before he is true to Arafat because Arafat is dead but the cause is still alive, the drama will only be respectable is it genuinely deals with thorny issues such as the war in Jordan in 1970, the expulsion of the PLO from Lebanon, the corruption that the PLO suffered form and the role that Arafat played in all those and other issues. With all this said and whether we like or dislike Arafat no one can deny that he had a great impact on Middle Eastern politics.
No doubt abt the corruption in d late Arafat's camp but what so great abt Hamas? Remember that Hamas was being created with the help from Israel as a counter weight to Arafat's Fatah.... That's make Hamas an Israel stooge....
He was a great man. As Palestinians we realize he wasn't perfect but he believed in the cause and he was dedicated to it and he died serving his people. If you're Fatah, Hamas or PFLP or other you must respect Abu Ammar and his efforts. No matter what people think he was 100 times better than any and all the Arab leaders of the past half century and all the traitors in charge now.
Where did his wife get her money. How did she live so wealthy. Did she sell her engagement ring..is her daughter working the streets or begging for money. That is where your money is dear fellow arabs.
Abu oren, r u sure? don't tell me that u r one of his victims? If not, then how come u know that Arafat was a homo who rape.... come on.. tell d truth even though it hurts
abdulrahman.k, india, (2007-08-30 , 01:48) - Reply
Yassar arafat the great, the father of the nation for palastine...but he more try solves the fight palastine and israel...god sees the truth but waits...
Keep your contributions civil, tasteful and relevant. Albawaba reserves the right to be selective in publishing readers' comments
Thank you for participating. Your comment has been saved and will be visible after our moderator's approval