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| Palestinians celebrate Mohammed Assaf's Arab Idol triumph | Palestinians celebrate Mohammed Assaf's Arab Idol triumph |
| (3 months later) | |
| For once, Palestinians had something to celebrate. When the golden boy from Gaza was announced as winner of Arab Idol, the West Bank and Gaza erupted in fireworks, piercing whistles, deafening chants, impromptu dancing and tears of joy. | For once, Palestinians had something to celebrate. When the golden boy from Gaza was announced as winner of Arab Idol, the West Bank and Gaza erupted in fireworks, piercing whistles, deafening chants, impromptu dancing and tears of joy. |
| On stage in Beirut, Palestine's first superstar, Mohammed Assaf, sank to the floor, overwhelmed amid a deluge of celebratory confetti. Later the 23-year-old student showed himself to be a poet as well as an outstanding singer. | On stage in Beirut, Palestine's first superstar, Mohammed Assaf, sank to the floor, overwhelmed amid a deluge of celebratory confetti. Later the 23-year-old student showed himself to be a poet as well as an outstanding singer. |
| "A revolution is not just the one carrying the rifle, it is the paintbrush of an artist, the scalpel of a surgeon, the axe of the farmer," he said. "Everyone struggles for their cause in the way they see fit. Today I represent Palestine and today I am fighting for a cause through my art and the message I send out." | "A revolution is not just the one carrying the rifle, it is the paintbrush of an artist, the scalpel of a surgeon, the axe of the farmer," he said. "Everyone struggles for their cause in the way they see fit. Today I represent Palestine and today I am fighting for a cause through my art and the message I send out." |
| In the studio audience his mother, Intisar Abu Shammaleh, a maths teacher from the impoverished Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, waved a Palestinian flag above her hijab. "I am overwhelmed, feelings I cannot describe. Most importantly I am feeling proud, proud of the Palestinian people who showed they are alive," she said. | In the studio audience his mother, Intisar Abu Shammaleh, a maths teacher from the impoverished Khan Younis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, waved a Palestinian flag above her hijab. "I am overwhelmed, feelings I cannot describe. Most importantly I am feeling proud, proud of the Palestinian people who showed they are alive," she said. |
| Hundreds of thousands of people poured on to the streets to salute their new hero and to congratulate one another on Palestine's new place in the popular culture order. Roads in Gaza City and Ramallah were clogged until the early hours of Sunday morning with cars honking horns and pedestrians waving flags and keffiyehs, traditional chequered scarves. | Hundreds of thousands of people poured on to the streets to salute their new hero and to congratulate one another on Palestine's new place in the popular culture order. Roads in Gaza City and Ramallah were clogged until the early hours of Sunday morning with cars honking horns and pedestrians waving flags and keffiyehs, traditional chequered scarves. |
| "Assaf is a small word but now it has a lot of meaning to us as Palestinians," said Walid Kharoufeh, 21, in Ramallah. "This shows the world that, despite the occupation and the violence and the tears, we have a new symbol of peace and that music is a way to show the world that we are strong." | "Assaf is a small word but now it has a lot of meaning to us as Palestinians," said Walid Kharoufeh, 21, in Ramallah. "This shows the world that, despite the occupation and the violence and the tears, we have a new symbol of peace and that music is a way to show the world that we are strong." |
| In Gaza City, Sumyya Sumary, 56, watched the celebrations from the doorstep of her house. "I have never felt happy as I am tonight. Assaf has brought the happiness to Palestine. Palestinians deserve joy, and a rest from violence and killing." | In Gaza City, Sumyya Sumary, 56, watched the celebrations from the doorstep of her house. "I have never felt happy as I am tonight. Assaf has brought the happiness to Palestine. Palestinians deserve joy, and a rest from violence and killing." |
| Assaf's final performance, broadcast live to millions of viewers in the Arab world and the diaspora on Friday night, was a powerful, celebratory rendition of his signature song, Raise Your Keffiyeh, Raise It. | Assaf's final performance, broadcast live to millions of viewers in the Arab world and the diaspora on Friday night, was a powerful, celebratory rendition of his signature song, Raise Your Keffiyeh, Raise It. |
| There was a 24-hour wait before the results were announced shortly before midnight on Saturday. Assaf, on stage with fellow finalists Ahmed Jamal, an Egyptian, and Farah Youssef, a Syrian, pressed his lips tightly together and momentarily closed his eyes during the final seconds before being declared the winner. | There was a 24-hour wait before the results were announced shortly before midnight on Saturday. Assaf, on stage with fellow finalists Ahmed Jamal, an Egyptian, and Farah Youssef, a Syrian, pressed his lips tightly together and momentarily closed his eyes during the final seconds before being declared the winner. |
| Assaf, who was born in Libya and returned with his family to Khan Younis when he was four, started singing at weddings and family parties in Gaza as a child. Songs about Palestinian national identity and aspiration were always part of his repertoire, but the aspiring performer struggled against the disapproval of the ruling Hamas authorities and a lack of recording studios and professional advice in Gaza. | Assaf, who was born in Libya and returned with his family to Khan Younis when he was four, started singing at weddings and family parties in Gaza as a child. Songs about Palestinian national identity and aspiration were always part of his repertoire, but the aspiring performer struggled against the disapproval of the ruling Hamas authorities and a lack of recording studios and professional advice in Gaza. |
| He reportedly almost missed the chance to compete in Arab Idol because he was late for auditions in Cairo, having had difficulty in getting a permit to leave Gaza. The story goes that after climbing over a wall to gain entry to the premises, whose gates had been locked, the show's organisers refused him a ticket to audition. But an impromptu performance to waiting entrants persuaded another Palestinian to give up his slot to Assaf, saying the young man from Gaza had a better chance than he of success. | He reportedly almost missed the chance to compete in Arab Idol because he was late for auditions in Cairo, having had difficulty in getting a permit to leave Gaza. The story goes that after climbing over a wall to gain entry to the premises, whose gates had been locked, the show's organisers refused him a ticket to audition. But an impromptu performance to waiting entrants persuaded another Palestinian to give up his slot to Assaf, saying the young man from Gaza had a better chance than he of success. |
| His television appearances over the past three months have made him a symbol of hope and unity in the West Bank and Gaza, where his delicate features and radiant smile are plastered over walls, billboards and on T-shirts. Thousands of fans flocked to cafes and open-air venues for broadcasts of the weekly show. | His television appearances over the past three months have made him a symbol of hope and unity in the West Bank and Gaza, where his delicate features and radiant smile are plastered over walls, billboards and on T-shirts. Thousands of fans flocked to cafes and open-air venues for broadcasts of the weekly show. |
| Hamas and conservative religious leaders were less enthusiastic about the western-style contest, which had women among the judges and presenters in glamorous gowns, ostentatious jewellery and vibrant makeup. "Voting for songs and immorality, evil and sin is not only forbidden, it is a crime against the cause of our people," said Mohammed Salim in a sermon at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on Friday, the day of the final performances. | Hamas and conservative religious leaders were less enthusiastic about the western-style contest, which had women among the judges and presenters in glamorous gowns, ostentatious jewellery and vibrant makeup. "Voting for songs and immorality, evil and sin is not only forbidden, it is a crime against the cause of our people," said Mohammed Salim in a sermon at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on Friday, the day of the final performances. |
| But the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and the former prime minister Salam Fayyad endorsed Assaf, and mobile phone networks offered cut-price texts for viewers to vote for him. Jawwal, one of the phone companies, said 8m votes had been cast for Assaf in the final by Gaza's population of 1.7 million. | But the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and the former prime minister Salam Fayyad endorsed Assaf, and mobile phone networks offered cut-price texts for viewers to vote for him. Jawwal, one of the phone companies, said 8m votes had been cast for Assaf in the final by Gaza's population of 1.7 million. |
| Abbas described the result as a victory for the Palestinian people, and announced that Assaf had been appointed a goodwill ambassador for the Palestinian Authority. Assaf has also secured a recording contract and a car as part of his spoils. | Abbas described the result as a victory for the Palestinian people, and announced that Assaf had been appointed a goodwill ambassador for the Palestinian Authority. Assaf has also secured a recording contract and a car as part of his spoils. |
| Some Hamas leaders, belatedly realising the faction's disapproval could backfire in the face of overwhelming popular support, congratulated Assaf. The Hamas legislator Yahia Mussa posted on Facebook: "Greetings from the heart to the talented artist Mohammed Assaf", adding that his victory was a gift to "the seized people in Gaza and West Bank, and raised the name of Palestine". | Some Hamas leaders, belatedly realising the faction's disapproval could backfire in the face of overwhelming popular support, congratulated Assaf. The Hamas legislator Yahia Mussa posted on Facebook: "Greetings from the heart to the talented artist Mohammed Assaf", adding that his victory was a gift to "the seized people in Gaza and West Bank, and raised the name of Palestine". |
| In Ramallah, Mohammed Omar, 50, said: "People think Palestine is all rockets and bombs and stones. Now everyone will know about us in a different way." Echoing his view, Imad Rabee, 27, said: "The image of Gaza has changed from war to singing." | In Ramallah, Mohammed Omar, 50, said: "People think Palestine is all rockets and bombs and stones. Now everyone will know about us in a different way." Echoing his view, Imad Rabee, 27, said: "The image of Gaza has changed from war to singing." |
| Watching overjoyed dancers in Saraya Square in Gaza City, Fareed Murad, 36, said: "I am prouder to be a Palestinian tonight more than any time before, and I am proud to be from Gaza as well." | Watching overjoyed dancers in Saraya Square in Gaza City, Fareed Murad, 36, said: "I am prouder to be a Palestinian tonight more than any time before, and I am proud to be from Gaza as well." |
| There was no indication of when Assaf might return to Gaza, and whether Hamas would permit him to perform in public. He will also need permission from the Israeli authorities to perform to his compatriots in the West Bank. | There was no indication of when Assaf might return to Gaza, and whether Hamas would permit him to perform in public. He will also need permission from the Israeli authorities to perform to his compatriots in the West Bank. |
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