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….
