Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., August 19, 2007 Elul 5, 5767 | | Israel Time: 03:32 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Print Edition
Diplomacy
Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising
Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Travel Sports
A still from a Hamas TV show posted on the YouTube Web site, showing the abuse of a cat.
del.icio.us
Digg It!  new
Last update - 17:20 15/08/2007
Animal rights group slams Hamas TV clip of man abusing cats, lions
By Reuters

International animal rights group PETA on Wednesday condemned a "shocking and sickening" video clip produced by a Hamas-run TV station and posted on the YouTube Web site that showed the abuse of animals.

PETA said it would protest to the TV station over the program that showed animals being abused as part of a program aimed at teaching children not to hurt animals.

The clip prompted scores of complaints from viewers worldwide.

Advertisement

"It's shocking and sickening," said Martin Mersereau, manager of the domestic animal abuse division of U.S.-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Mersereau said PETA was drafting a letter of protest to the Gaza-based Al-Aqsa television station.

A segment of the program was posted on YouTube after being recorded and translated by pro-Israeli group Palestinian Media Watch.

An official at the TV station declined immediate comment.

The YouTube clip shows an actor dressed as a bee mistreating cats and lions at Gaza's zoo. In the studio, he is reprimanded by the program's host, who cautions children against mimicking the bee's "terrible" behavior.

"Any lessons meant to be contained in this segment are almost certainly lost on most children, who are more likely to imitate people they see treating animals cruelly rather than understand this behavior is wrong," Mersereau said.

The Hamas-run TV station made world headlines in June when it featured a character who closely resembled Disney's Mickey Mouse advocating Palestinian attacks against Israelis. "Farfur" was later "beaten to death" by an actor depicted as an Israeli.

Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June, after days of battling Palestinian security forces dominated by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction.
Bookmark to del.icio.us
Who needs a director?
In the past, the playwright would see to it that his play was performed.
Hug by SMS
I found myself looking at the perfect condolence letter, but hesitating to press 'Send.'
  1.   Don`t mistreat animals, kids, blow yourselves up instead! 16:18  |  McQueen 15/08/07
  2.   I suppose 16:22  |  Chris Linthwaite 15/08/07
  3.   I`m one of the many who sent the video to PETA it was disgusting 16:26  |  Nannette 15/08/07
  4.   That`s not cruel compared to... 16:28  |  Steve 15/08/07
  5.   Farfur and company 16:36  |  GZLives 15/08/07
  6.   4.Steve,Hamas did not steal the lion,it found the missing lion, 16:50  |  lakshmi 15/08/07
  7.   That Little Episode Destroyed Hamas 16:51  |  Yosemite 15/08/07
  8.   to indrajaya 16:52  |  Israel4ever 15/08/07
  9.   What and why is the surprize? People who have no 16:58  |  Anat 15/08/07
  10.   Don`t hit the animal like that. Hit it like THIS!! 17:11  |  Hannah 15/08/07
  11.   Isn`t their new farfur a bee? 17:12  |  Chick 15/08/07
  12.   PETA is not objective 17:15  |  Wouldbe Dutch 15/08/07
  13.   How about slaughtering a million Iraqis by the Americans? 17:45  |  Londoner 15/08/07
  14.   What do you expect... 17:54  |  Mark 15/08/07
  15.   How Primitive can you get?? 18:08  |  Danite 15/08/07
  16.   NO ONE HAS KILLED MORE CHILDERN THEN THE IDF 18:13  |  MIke 15/08/07
  17.   Lakshmi who stole the lion? 18:25  |  Hannah 15/08/07
  18.   Nannette -- incorrect 18:36  |  Gina 15/08/07
  19.   Londoner 18:39  |  silvienne 15/08/07
  20.   Londoner 18:39  |  silvienne 15/08/07
  21.   let`s protest cruelty to animals but not cruelty to Israelis 18:49  |  Richard S 15/08/07
  22.   #6 lakshmi 18:49  |  Sol 15/08/07
  23.   re: Londoner 18:51  |  dan 15/08/07
  24.   #13 - Londoner 19:11  |  MichaelF 15/08/07
  25.   Londoner 19:13  |  Yosemite 15/08/07
  26.   Animal abuse 19:15  |  George Abulis 15/08/07
  27.   Just wait until... 19:17  |  Webster 15/08/07
  28.   20Sol,facts are facts,the lion was not stolen by Hamas,but by 19:28  |  lakshmi 15/08/07
  29.   Simply Another Instance 19:30  |  Solon 15/08/07
  30.   Criticize the Palestinians? perish the thioght... 19:41  |  Evan 15/08/07
  31.   re: MIke, No It Isn`t 19:42  |  Efox 15/08/07
  32.   PETA As Usual Puts Animals Above People 19:44  |  Efox 15/08/07
  33.   Hamas 19:58  |  M. Ahmadi-nejad 15/08/07
  34.   #27 lakshmi 20:16  |  Sol 15/08/07
  35.   #24, Yosemite, you are entirely correct... 20:43  |  Silvienne 15/08/07
  36.   #31, Efox 20:45  |  Silvienne 15/08/07
  37.   TO: Efox 20:46  |  Mike 15/08/07
  38.   #20, Richard S. 20:48  |  Silvienne 15/08/07
  39.   34Sol,evidently you have not followed the takeover news or the 21:34  |  lakshmi 15/08/07
  40.   Lakshmi - you forget them beating people 22:00  |  GZLives 15/08/07
  41.   6 Lakshmi 23:08  |  ChanahS 15/08/07
  42.   I have to admit 23:09  |  indrajaya 15/08/07
  43.   Chris Linthwaite # 2 23:11  |  ChanahS 15/08/07
  44.   That`s IT??? 23:20  |  Pssd Off American 15/08/07
  45.   Hamas and PETA 23:28  |  Sylvia 15/08/07
  46.   Hamas and PETA #2 23:30  |  Sylvia 15/08/07
  47.   lakshmi -Gaza Green ????? 23:38  |  Achmed Smith 15/08/07
  48.   Londoner # (my foot) 23:38  |  ChanahS 15/08/07
  49.   Mlke # 16 23:41  |  ChanahS 15/08/07
  50.   Silvienne # 19 You`re right 23:43  |  ChanahS 15/08/07
  51.   Pssd of American 23:48  |  ChanahS 15/08/07
  52.   #6 lakshmi 00:28  |  * BEN JABO 16/08/07
  53.   #12 wouldbedutch 00:30  |  * BEN JABO 16/08/07
  54.   NON ONE HAS SENT MORE CHILDREN 00:32  |  * BEN JABO 16/08/07
  55.   #16 Mike - I didn`t wait for U 2 ask 00:39  |  * BEN JABO 16/08/07
  56.   #16 Mike - say what you will, Israel doesn`t 00:43  |  * BEN JABO 16/08/07
  57.   #47, ChanahS, you`re so right... 00:58  |  Silvienne 16/08/07
  58.   #49, ChanahS 01:00  |  Silvienne 16/08/07
  59.   Good for you, Sylvia... 01:02  |  Silvienne 16/08/07
  60.   Mike # 36 01:09  |  ChanahS 16/08/07
  61.   Silvienne # 35 PETA 01:13  |  ChanahS 16/08/07
  62.   Hysteria and hypocricy galore here 01:14  |  Ben Alofs 16/08/07
  63.   #46 ChanahS, are you too blind to see that... 01:23  |  Ben Alofs 16/08/07
  64.   Arrogance and prejudice 01:48  |  Ben Alofs 16/08/07
  65.   43Pssd off American,excellent points,this is not animal abuse 01:54  |  lakshmi 16/08/07
  66.   40Chanah S,since you are from South Africa your racism shows! 01:56  |  lakshmi 16/08/07
  67.   51 Ben J. see 43 Pssd off American for an excellent reply to the 02:00  |  lakshmi 16/08/07
  68.   Israel`s human treatment 02:05  |  syed 16/08/07
  69.   ChanahS 02:24  |  Pssd Off American 16/08/07
  70.   Hamas thrives on killing & destruction 02:27  |  * BEN JABO 16/08/07
  71.   Londoner - When did you leave Pakistan?? 02:31  |  * BEN JABO 16/08/07
  72.   Ben Alofs @ 58 03:00  |  ChanahS 16/08/07
  73.   Lakshmi - I WATCHED THE VIDEO 04:11  |  * BEN JABO 16/08/07
  74.   #61, Okay, ChanahS, but that doesn`t excuse Hamas 04:42  |  Silvienne 16/08/07
  75.   #62, Ben Alofs 04:45  |  Silvienne 16/08/07
  76.   Our "PEACE PARTNERS" at work !!! 04:54  |  amir 16/08/07
  77.   Needless To Say... 05:09  |  Yosemite 16/08/07
  78.   If it was up to PETA 06:39  |  * BEN JABO 16/08/07
  79.   BEN JABO 07:23  |  Yosemite 16/08/07
  80.   Silvienne @ 58 09:01  |  ChanahS 16/08/07
  81.   First religious hypocrisy... 09:03  |  BushClintonBush... 16/08/07
  82.   But Jews gunning down little (terrorist) Palestinian girls is OK 09:11  |  keith