The Palestinian Authority has escalated its campaign to make Israel illegitimate by exploiting the European Union logo on a PA television program that promotes the port city of Haifa as “a Palestinian city.” The Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) unmasked the program with a translation of a daily quiz that was broadcast as a promo for the second season of a weekly quiz show on a Palestinian Authority television program called “The Stars.” The first season was funded by the European Union. The question posed to the TV viewers was, "A Palestinian coastal city is: 1. Ramallah 2. Bethlehem 3. Haifa Viewers are invited to “Call the number that appears on the screen and win $500." PA TV is under the direct control of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's office. Haifa is the only coastal city among the three choices. PMW noted that the first season of the program dealt solely with questions on Europe, covering all areas of life. The new season is sponsored by a PA cell phone company. The PA television program shows the EU flag in the background although it is not yet known if the EU is continuing to sponsor the program. The quiz is part of an increasingly sophisticated PA campaign to be more subtle in inciting hatred against Israel and delegitimizing the Jewish State. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas told U.S. President Barack Obama last week, “And we say in front of you, Mr. President, that we have nothing to do with incitement against Israel, and we're not doing that. What we care about is to live in coexistence with Israel, in order to bring about the independent Palestinian state that will live side by side with Israel in peace and stability." In February, PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad rejected accusations of incitement, saying Israel’s claims are “clearly part of a systematic effort to isolate us internationally.” The PA agreed under the now obsolete American Roadmap plan to halt all incitement against Israel. The Netanyahu government recently agreed to be part of American-mediated indirect talks with the PA, with one of the stipulations being that the PA halt incitement.
