Miriam Awadallah, Intern at the American Task Force on Palestine: Assaf is Now My Idol: Sorry, Kanye West

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Assaf is Now My Idol: Sorry, Kanye West

 

By Miriam Awadallah, Intern at the American Task Force on Palestine
Location United States June 28, 2013 6:07 pm·

 

Who would think that a wedding singer, Mohammed Assaf, hailing from a refugee camp in Gaza would suddenly be catapulted into international fame and recognition, taking the place of Kanye West—at least in my mind?

 

Over 60 million Arabs voted for Assaf to be their “Idol” last week. It seemed his voice had a soothing effect on the widespread mayhem engulfing the Middle East. On Saturday, his crowning day, all Arabs were “high.”

 
His voice, dripping with honey, and his smile, electrifying, can still do wonders. Millions of Arabs are still reeling from the Assaf spell. He can lead them wherever he wants.

But where?

I vividly remember ­­the first time I was introduced to Assaf. Home for a visit after completing my first year of graduate school, my father was glued to the TV screen, watching the hit show “Arab Idol”, and me, my iPhone. As a half-Palestinian American who doesn’t even watch American Idol, I had no interest in watching its Arab counterpart. My father was wearing a huge smile as he called my name and told me to pay attention to the TV, a Palestinian was about to perform and he was “amazing.”

I reluctantly peeled my eyes away from the conversation I was having with a friend via text and looked up at the screen. A tanned, skinny young man stood in front of me. Sporting a traditional keffiyeh, and his hair gelled to perfection, he didn’t look any different from any other Palestinian man I’ve seen before. Suddenly, I couldn’t believe my ears.

“I wish she knew how much I love her…” His sweet voice captured me. I was stunned. Who was this Palestinian man, with an infectious smile on my TV? It was over; I had caught “Assaf-fever.”

After Assaf clinched the title of Arab Idol, my excitement was wild. His victory has been described as finally giving the Palestinian people a reason to celebrate, but his win is so much more than a good reason to party. The Palestinian people have long craved an Assaf-esque figure to provide them with a less antagonizing face to the world. The attractive man singing his heart out on stage is a far cry from the masked, camouflaged men the American public is used to seeing when presented with images of Palestinians.

His career as a singer is considered to be a sin in the eyes of the Islamists who are gaining momentum in the region. Hamas has not exactly been his biggest fan; they recently attempted to censor him in Gaza, and gave him a lukewarm reception upon his homecoming despite being a Palestinian hero.

The Mufti of Nablus also issued a “Fatwa” against watching the same show he was competing on. Assaf represents the broader modern, secular trends of the Middle East, empowering the factions that are joining hands and protesting in the streets of Egypt and elsewhere.

Palestinian youth now have a positive role model, who is empowering them to show the world the beauty of their culture. With sectarian violence raging on next door in Syria and Lebanon, Assaf , the new “goodwill ambassador” of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), can lead his millions of Arab fans to a path of tolerance, coexistence and peace.

Miriam Awadallah is an intern at the American Task Force on Palestine. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh with a specialization in Security and Intelligence. She holds a BA from George Washington University in International Affairs and Middle East Studies. Her interests include International Security Politics, Conflict Resolution, and Counterterrorism. In addition, she is also interested in Middle Eastern politics, specifically the role of Iran in the broader Middle East and the Arab-Israeli conflict. You can follow her on Twitter at @Miradallah.
 

American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) congratulates Arab America for the outstanding accomplishment in organizing a highly successful event that featured “Arab Idol” Mohammed Assaf and Lebanese vocalist Ziad Khoury on May 11 2014 ... in Growing Gardens for Palestine

Growing Gardens for Palestine

Virginia concert حفلة فيرجينيا (42 photos)

***

ATFP Congratulates Arab America

for the Success of Mohammed Assaf Concert

American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) congratulates Arab America for the outstanding accomplishment in organizing a highly successful event that featured “Arab Idol” Mohammed Assaf and Lebanese vocalist Ziad Khoury on May 11 in Washington, D.C. area. 

 

ATFP co-sponsored the event in support of the concert’s message of solidarity with the Palestinian people and their steadfastness and perseverance. 

 

Watch a video of the sponsorship acknowledgment read by Warren David, Arab America President, here.

 

The 800 attendees of the concert responded enthusiastically to the talents and message of Assaf and Khoury.

Dr. Ziad Asali, ATFP President, and "Arab Idol" Mohammed Assaf meeting after the concert

***

Over 850 Guests Attend Arab America "Ya Hal Arab" Event with Mohammed Assaf and Ziad Khoury


"Ya Hal Arab: A Call for Unity," took place on Sunday, May 11, 2014 at the Waterford-Springfield Banquet Facility in Springfield, Virginia.

Over 850 guests attended the sold out event which featured the Arab Idol and Palestinian Super Star, Mohammed Assaf and the incomparable Lebanese vocalist and Arab Idol finalist, Ziad Khoury.

In addition to Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland, attendees from as far away as New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina were present.

The evening began with introductions from Emcee Darik Kristofer, On-Air Host at CBS 94.7 Fresh FM. Kristofer who is originally of Palestinian heritage, spoke about his passion to connect with his heritage and there was no better place than the evening’s event. He also spoke of the importance of Arab America and its mission to portray an accurate image of Arab Americans in wake of the negative Arab images portrayed in the media.

He then introduced Arab America President Warren David who spoke of his vision to see Arab America as a place where all Arab Americans regardless of their ethnicity or religion could come together united under one identity. He added that Arab America not only serves Arab Americans but all peoples of diverse backgrounds in America.

David then went on to say, "Tonight we celebrate the unwavering Palestinian unity and determination to see a Palestinian homeland after more than 66 years of occupation!" he concluded, "We hope tonight’s event symbolized through our spirit of unity will bring peace and justice and human dignity to our Palestinian brothers and sisters.

Finally, he thanked the many sponsors and advertisers who helped to make this event possible.

Emcee Kristofer then introduced Dr. Amal David, director of community relations at Arab America. With the event falling on Mother's Day, Dr. David read a poem dedicated to mothers by the late renowned Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Each Mother was presented a flower as a symbol of love and respect. She also thanked the 21 volunteers which comprised the host committee for the event.

Lebanese vocalist Ziad Khoury opened the program with renditions of popular music from Lebanon and the Levant.. His repertoire included several selections of Lebanese folkloric music featuring unparalleled "attabas" which were easily identifiable by the audience and reminiscent of music affecting the richness of Arab music.

Prior to his performance, the Arab Idol, Mohammed Assaf was escorted by a group of community members who jubilantly chanted "zeffi" (a celebration chant) accompanied by Arab drummers.

Assaf's program included a resounding selection of Arab and Palestinian musical selections. Known for his "mawals," the audience witnessed breath taking melismas for which he is famous.

The highlight of his performance was the vocalization of the newly released hit "Ya Halali Ya Mali," The song recently released as a video was filmed at the Bourj el-Barajneh refugee camp in Lebanon; it reflects Assaf's commitment to the Palestinian diaspora and his passion to salute Palestinian determination and unity through his music. His performance of the song was accompanied by the "Faris El Layl" dabke troupe coordinated by Mohammad Abou-Elhawa.

Prior to and after the concert, there were numerous exhibits of literature and cultural artifacts from many of the Arab American organizations in the Washington DC area--reaffirming a call for unity and cohesiveness in the Arab American community.

Arab America (www.arabamerica.com) is a national (for-profit) organization founded with the purpose of promoting an accurate image about the Arab American community and the Arab world through digital media, cultural and educational events.

View photos from the event.

Watch video from the event.

***

Mohammed Assaf is UNRWA's first ever Regional Youth Ambassador

As a "child of UNRWA," Mohammed Assaf is the ideal individual to be the first goodwill ambassador in the more than six decades of our history. A Palestine refugee himself, he grew up in the Khan Younis camp in Gaza. Not long ago, he was one of the over 220,000 students attending the Agency's 245 schools in Gaza. For him, the connection continued at home: His mother, too, was an UNRWA teacher. Throughout his childhood – at school, at the doctor's, at community centres – he saw firsthand the work that UNRWA does for Palestine refugees.

Since his appointment in June 2013, by Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi, as the Agency's Regional Youth Ambassador for Palestine Refugees, the 23-year-old Arab Idol winner has used his voice and his talent to help UNRWA give other young people the same support it gave him. With the universal language of his music, he carries the message of UNRWA and young Palestine refugees to new audiences, including in the region – to Dubai and Kuwait – and even further. In November 2013, he took that message to the United States, bringing the voice of Palestine refugee youth to the United Nations in New York City.

UNRWA is unique among UN agencies, both for its long-standing commitment to one group of refugees – the Palestine refugees - and for its direct provision of services including education, health care and relief to those refugees. But being unique doesn't mean that UNRWA can act alone: We have always depended on our partners, including our hosts and donors, to help us best serve Palestine refugees. Now, we are proud also to work with individuals who can add their voice to ours, spreading the word about Palestine refugees and reminding people who may be far away that they are not just a regional concern or a relic of the past.

American Task Force on Palestine Springs Forward, Asks for Our Support

ATFP Springs Forward, Asks for Your Support

Dear ATFP Friend,

With your support, this spring ATFP launched its most intense advocacy campaign ever to pursue peace and American foreign policies that will promote a better future in Palestine and throughout the Middle East. In recent weeks, we have participated in over 22 public speaking events, 20 articles, 13 media interviews and mentions, and numerous on and off the record interviews and meetings with decision- and opinion-makers from around the world, among other major initiatives.

We rely on your help so that these efforts -- and a voice of reason, principled pragmatism, and enlightened self-interest -- can continue to have a real and effective champion in Washington, across our country and in the region. 

Donate Now

In an ideal world, this letter would be thanking you for supporting our efforts that contributed to ending the occupation and the conflict, and the realization of peace between the Palestinians and Israel. But, obviously, there's a long way to go, and much more work to be done, before that vital goal is accomplished. ATFP remains committed to our mission, and is constantly looking for ways to move forward.

These are dynamic times at ATFP, as we break ground in new directions while intensifying our ongoing activities. Our new initiatives focus mainly on youth as a major part of expanding the constituency for peace and Palestine.

Our new Youth Coordinator Tala Haikal published her first major commentary, in the Huffington Post, advocating more engagement by young people in the quest for peace. She is spearheading our efforts to reach out to students and other youth.

Interning at ATFP is special. Our interns aren't just given clerical duties, but are closely involved with all aspects of our activities. Over the years a clear pattern has developed in which our interns, including Tala, have been so inspired by, and successful in, their internships at ATFP that they have later joined us as full-time staff.

We work with our interns on developing major research projects and guiding them in writing and publishing their findings. Most of our interns now will leave ATFP with at least one significant publication added to their CV. This is truly extraordinary for Washington internships, and we are committed to ensuring our interns are afforded a unique learning and contributing experience. Our current batch of talented interns (Amber, Brendan, Colleen, and Zach) are helping us build a new generation committed to promoting peace based on an end to the occupation.

In recent weeks, ATFP staff have been reaching wider audiences than ever around the country and the world through speaking engagements, media appearances and a constant stream of commentary articles. Among the highlights was a major ATFP panel discussion at the National Press Club in Washington on “The Status and Future of the Muslim Brotherhood,” broadcast live to C-SPAN's almost 50 million weekly viewers. 

I was honored last month to once again address the annual United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine. Meanwhile, this spring Executive Director Ghaith Al-Omari and Senior Fellow Hussein Ibish between them have spoken at over 30 major public events, including campus lectures, conferences, high-profile debates and panel discussions.

In March and April, leading American and Arab journals published an unprecedented number of articles by, or quoting, ATFP staff including Foreign Affairs, Al-Hayat, the Daily Beast, Ha’aretz, Al-Arabiya, The National, Asharq Al-Awsat, Now Media, etc. With the help of our current and former interns, and your interaction, ATFP’s social media channels have been on fire. Click here to read a more detailed list of the whirlwind of ATFP advocacy efforts in this dynamic spring forward for the organization. 

As always, we welcome your feedback. We rely on your generous help, not just in the form of financial and moral support, but also through sustained engagement and the real conversation we have been able to establish with many of you. Everyone is welcome to join in, and our expanding outreach efforts are intended to expand this conversation's breath and depth, and to reach more people with ATFP's core message of peace in the American national interest.

Donate Now

Despite ATFP's genuine accomplishments and the intensification of our efforts this spring, clearly all of us who are committed to peace need to do more. The Task Force currently has the most able and cohesive team in its history. Over the past decade, we have developed an unprecedented degree of credibility. Our standing, and the quality and quantity of our contribution, are vastly disproportionate to our small staff and limited resources. 

The Task Force has never been needed more, or better able to serve its noble causes, than it is today. But we need you to help us immediately with a generous and tax-deductible contribution.

Sincerely,

Ziad J. Asali, MD
President

American Task Force on Palestine

 The founding mission of the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) was, and remains, to impact decision-making in Washington on the importance of a two-state solution to the American national interest. Having just completed its first decade of work advocating for peace and Palestine, and embarking on its second decade, ATFP is issuing the following detailed set of explanations of exactly what it is, what it does and why. They are also intended to highlight and explicate ATFP's accomplishments during its first decade, which have far exceeded its expectations at its founding 10 years ago..    A Decade of Achievement: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About ATFP

ATFP categorically and unequivocally condemns all violence against civilians, no matter the
cause and who the victims or perpetrators may be.

 

ATFP Sponsors Arab America's Assaf Concert, May 11

American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) congratulates Arab America for bringing to us the talent of “Arab Idol” Mohammed Assaf and Lebanese vocalist Ziad Khoury. Join ATFP in supporting the concert’s message of solidarity with the Palestinian people and their steadfastness and perseverance.

ATFP is happy to be a sponsor of the event featuring the Palestinian superstar, as he premieres his new CD. ATFP encourages everybody, especially those in the Washington, DC area, to buy tickets and attend.The concert will take place on Sunday, May 11, 2014, at 5pm at Waterford-Springfield Banquet Facility. We look forward to seeing you there!

  Middle East News: World Press Round

recent columns

 Hussein Ibish says the US Supreme Court must uphold the Constitution, international law, and established US policy in its ruling on Jerusalem. (Now)

ATFP Pres. Ziad Asali says Arab men have to play a major role in the battle for women’s rights. (Huffington Post)

Please help sustain ATFP's work and independent decision-making by donating here.

Arab Idol winner Mohammad Assaf banned from performing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.

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http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=673467

Assaf 'banned' from singing at World Cup ceremony

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Arab Idol winner Mohammad Assaf said this week that he has been banned from performing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.

"I was supposed to sing for the World Cup 2014, in the opening ceremony, but, I do not want to accuse anyone but some people, or states or parties, God knows who, intervened and FIFA canceled my song with Platinum Records," he said at a news conference in Gaza on Tuesday.

"There are a lot of people who fight me, I do not know who," he added.

The Arab Idol star claimed that Colombian singer Shakira has "refused to sing in the World Cup because I will not sing."

In July last year FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he would invite Assaf to sing at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Assaf, the first Palestinian to win the popular Arab Idol TV singing contest, became the UN's first Palestinian goodwill ambassador in June 2013 following his victory.

An official from FIFA could not be reached by Ma'an.

Arab Idol Assaf in appeal for UN Palestinian agency

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http://maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=651608

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) -- Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf on Tuesday joined appeals to raise money for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

UNRWA says it may not be able to pay staff wages in December because of a $36 million budget deficit.

Assaf, who is from Gaza and was catapulted into the international spotlight by winning the Arab Idol talent series this year, said the agency was crucial for the survival of Palestinians.

"I call upon all to help fund and support UNRWA because that is the only way the people can survive and have a bit of hope at the end of the tunnel," Assaf, who is on a US concert tour, said through a translator.

The singer, who is a goodwill ambassador for the agency, said he misses his family in Gaza and he was not sure when he would be able to return to the blockaded territory.

"I will never forget my roots," said Assaf, 24, who was born in Libya but spent most of his life in the Khan Younis refugee camp in Gaza.

"I want to go back there soon to see my parents, but I am not going to give a date," he said. "I miss my family, they cannot be here because of the blockade."

***

Mohammad Assaf is UNRWA's first ever Regional Youth Ambassador: UNRWA is unique among UN agencies, both for its long-standing commitment to one group of refugees – the Palestine refugees - and for its direct provision of services including education, health care and relief to those refugees. But being unique doesn't mean that UNRWA can act alone: We have always depended on our partners, including our hosts and donors, to help us best serve Palestine refugees. Now, we are proud also to work with individuals who can add their voice to ours, spreading the word about Palestine refugees and reminding people who may be far away that they are not just a regional concern or a relic of the past.

http://www.unrwa.org/donate

Voicing solidarity with Palestinian cause, UN officials stress importance of resumed peace talks

Mohammed Assaf, UNRWA Regional Youth Ambassador and Winner of Arab Idol 2013 addresses the meeting. UN Photo/Ryan Brown

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http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=46578&Cr=palestin&Cr1#.UpP_dbbhERy

25 November 2013 – United Nations officials today voiced their solidarity with the people of Palestine in their aspirations for independence and sovereignty, and stressed the importance of ongoing peace talks aimed at a two-State solution which must be given a chance to bear fruit.

“We cannot afford to lose the current moment of opportunity,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a message read on his behalf to the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

“I ask all in the international community to work together to translate the solidarity expressed on this occasion into positive action for peace and justice,” he added.

The special meeting held at UN Headquarters comes ahead of the International Day, observed annually on 29 November. The Day marks the date in 1947 when the General Assembly adopted a resolution partitioning then-mandated Palestine into two States, one Jewish and one Arab.

“The goal remains clear – an end to the occupation that started in 1967 and the creation of a sovereign, independent, and viable State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders, living side by side in peace with a secure State of Israel,” Mr. Ban stated.

“Jerusalem is to emerge from negotiations as the capital of two States, with arrangements for the holy sites acceptable to all. An agreed solution must be found for millions of Palestinian refugees around the region.”

Israelis and Palestinians resumed direct negotiations in August, thanks to the efforts of United States Secretary of State John Kerry, following a three-year hiatus owing to Israel’s refusal to extend its freeze on settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory.

After decades of talks and “far too many” adverse developments on the ground, Mr. Ban urged Palestinian and Israeli leaders to take the decisions that will usher in a political solution to this serious and long-standing conflict.

The Chair of the General Assembly’s Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Abdou Salam Diallo, called on the international community to seize “what seems to be one of the last opportunities” to promote a negotiated solution.

“Time is running out. The negotiating process is endangered by certain policies and particularly by the ongoing establishment of Jewish settlements,” he told the meeting.

Later today, Mr. Diallo will introduce several draft resolutions related to the question of Palestine to the General Assembly, which will be asked to, among other things, declare 2014 as the “International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.”

General Assembly President John Ashe welcomed the Committee’s initiative to have 2014 proclaimed as the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, and called for using it to redouble efforts to create the necessary environment for successful peace talks.

“Ongoing peace negotiations must be given a chance for peace to take root and flourish, but peace cannot be meaningful and durable without taking fully into account the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, which are key to the solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East.”

“I call on the Governments and people of both Israel and Palestine to avoid actions that would undermine the fragile hope created by this renewed round of negotiations, and to cease and desist from any actions that are in contravention to international law and would pose a major impediment to peace in the Middle East and, more importantly, render the two-State solution impossible,” said Mr. Ashe.

Speaking on behalf of the UN agency responsible for assisting five million Palestinian refugees, Filippo Grandi said that solidarity – which transcends political and financial support – is crucial because it makes Palestinians feel that they are not alone.

Mr. Grandi, the outgoing Commissioner General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said his organization is “sadly familiar” with this loneliness, given how closely it works with refugees whose plight has remained unresolved for over six decades.

As part of the observance of the International Day, the Palestinian Rights Committee will hold a concert later today featuring two Palestinian singers – Mohammed Assaf, UNRWA Regional Youth Ambassador and Winner of Arab Idol 2013, and Nai Barghouti.

The Committee is also screening the documentary film “State 194,” which focuses on former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s 2009 plan to demonstrate that his people were deserving of statehood, inspiring them to change their destiny and seek UN membership.

---

News Tracker: past stories on this issue

Israelis and Palestinians must refrain from undermining renewed talks – UN political chief

Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf is revered by fans in the Middle East but his main aim now is to help establish the rights of fellow Palestinians

"To be honest I have no trust in Israel at the moment. If they give us our land and our rights back, I will sing in Israel, but they have to do something positive. It's up to them. They have made no effort to dismantle their illegal settlements, for example – quite the opposite." Mohammed Assaf

Palestinian winner of Arab Idol Mohammed Assaf performs in the West Bank city of Ramallah last month. Photograph: Abbas Momani/AFP/Getty Images

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 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/10/palestinian-pop-singer-mohammed-assaf

Arab pop star adds his voice to the calls for a peace deal for Palestine

Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf is revered by fans in the Middle East but his main aim now is to help establish the rights of fellow Palestinians

• Nabila Ramdani in Ramallah
• The Observer, Saturday 10 August 2013

An incredible voice is invariably the key to success in any TV talent show. But not many singers choose to use theirs like Mohammed Assaf, the 23-year-old Palestinian who shot to prominence across the Middle East and north Africa in June by winning the hugely popular Arab Idol.

Assaf's pitch-perfect renditions of regional classics from across the Arab world attracted an audience of up to 100 million for the show's final. Exuberant idealism may have been the hallmark of his performances but, like those who achieved so much in the early months of the Arab spring revolutions of 2011, Assaf knows romanticism alone will not sustain his ambitions. In the buildup to Palestinian-Israeli peace talks which resume in Jerusalem this week, there is no doubting his growing political influence. "I have a great responsibility to my people," said Assaf, after performing at a new stadium near Hebron in the West Bank to thousands of ecstatic fans. Nationalist songs such as Ya Tair al-Tayer (Oh Bird in Flight) provided solace to those yearning for full Palestinian independence, but Assaf is convinced that real change is possible.

"I am confident that I will see a free Palestine in my lifetime," he said. "I sing about popular themes but they centre on the hopes of my own people – dreams of independence for the West Bank, for Jerusalem and for Gaza. We've been under Israeli occupation for decades."

Born in Colonel Gaddafi's Libya and growing up in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, Assaf embodies the struggles of a generation who, two years ago during the pro-democracy revolutions, used every modern tool available to put their problems on the worldwide agenda. The internet and live satellite TV broadcasts were crucial to the Arab spring in an increasingly interdependent, media-driven world, but Assaf is also a passionate believer in the power of both popular music and celebrity to galvanise people.

"There are many ways to make a difference in life, but my way is as an artist," said Assaf, a graduate of Palestine University who has just become a UN youth ambassador. "I've always wanted to make my voice heard around the world, to sing about the occupation, about the security walls between communities, and about refugees. My first ambition is a cultural revolution through art. Palestinians don't want war...READ MORE

A positive role model... ATFP's Miriam Awadallah

Miriam Awadallah: "After Assaf clinched the title of Arab Idol, my excitement was wild. His victory has been described as finally giving the Palestinian people a reason to celebrate, but his win is so much more than a good reason to party. The Palestinian people have long craved an Assaf-esque figure to provide them with a less antagonizing face to the world. The attractive man singing his heart out on stage is a far cry from the masked, camouflaged men the American public is used to seeing when presented with images of Palestinians.

His career as a singer is considered to be a sin in the eyes of the Islamists who are gaining momentum in the region. Hamas has not exactly been his biggest fan; they recently attempted to censor him in Gaza, and gave him a lukewarm reception upon his homecoming despite being a Palestinian hero.

The Mufti of Nablus also issued a “Fatwa” against watching the same show he was competing on. Assaf represents the broader modern, secular trends of the Middle East, empowering the factions that are joining hands and protesting in the streets of Egypt and elsewhere.

Palestinian youth now have a positive role model, who is empowering them to show the world the beauty of their culture. With sectarian violence raging on next door in Syria and Lebanon, Assaf , the new “goodwill ambassador” of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), can lead his millions of Arab fans to a path of tolerance, coexistence and peace."

http://www.sharnoffsglobalviews.com/assaf-idol-130/

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Washington Post: Palestinians find an unlikely hero in ‘Arab Idol’ contest show winner

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/06/24/palestinians-find-an-unlikely-hero-in-arab-idol-contest-show-winner/

"Assaf, with his good looks and easy smile, represents a publicity coup for the Palestinian cause and makes ordinary Palestinians happy to show the world, corny as it is, that Gaza is not just about rockets and strife, but singing and dreaming."

Palestinian singer Mohammad Assaf holds a Palestinian flag after he won the title of the television talent show “Arab Idol,” in Beirut, Lebanon. (EPA/MBC PRESS OFFICE)

JERUSALEM — It was a most improbable story of a moonlighting wedding singer from a Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, who barged his way into an audition and went on to win hearts across the Middle East — and on Saturday night was declared the winner of the “Arab Idol” singing contest.

Fireworks exploded over the West Bank city of Ramallah and people poured into the streets there and in the Gaza Strip to celebrate what fans called a dream come true for Mohammad Assaf, the fresh-faced 22-year-old college student from Khan Younis.

He closed down his competitors by singing, in English, the Backstreet Boys hit “I Want It That Way.” Here’s the video:

http://youtu.be/zSgbAWnA4mw

Al Jazeera reported that after Assaf won the Idol title he was named Youth Ambassador for United Nation’s agency for Palestinian refugees, a goodwill ambassador by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and handed a diplomatic passport — READ MORE

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/06/24/palestinians-find-an-unlikely-hero-in-arab-idol-contest-show-winner/
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Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf crowned the “Arab Idol”... “a rocket of peace, not war”

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/life-style/entertainment/2013/06/23/Young-Palestinian-singer-Assaf-crowned-the-Arab-Idol-.html

Saturday, 22 June 2013

Immediately after he was crowned, Mohammed Assaf was named UNRWA’s goodwill ambassador. (Al Arabiya)  

Al Arabiya

Young Palestinian singer from Gaza Strip Mohammed Assaf was crowned on Saturday the “Arab Idol,” a singing contest organized by the Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC).

Immediately after he was crowned, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) named him a goodwill ambassador for peace, while Palestinian President Mohamoud Abbas offered him a position of “diplomatic standing.”

Assaf, who came ahead of two other contestants, Syria’s Farah Yousef and Egypt’s Ahmed Jamal, dedicated his award to the Palestinian people.

The 23-year-old Gazan singer brought together divided Palestinians in celebrations throughout the Palestinian territories in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The handsome, tuxedo-clad Assaf won after weeks of anticipation from his army of followers, who had been glued to big screens in cafes and restaurants across Gaza and the occupied West Bank, listening as his powerful voice propelled him through the competition every weekend, AFP reported.

His mother, wearing a traditional Palestinian embroidered dress, wept as she wrapped the Palestinian black, green, white and red flag around her shoulders.

In northern Lebanon, Palestinian refugees in the Beddawi camp fired gunshots into the air and took to the streets, honking their car horns to celebrate Assaf’s win.

Shortly afterwards, a spontaneous demonstration broke out in Beddawi to celebrate the occasion.

Born in Misrata, Libya, Assaf grew up in the overcrowded Khan Yunis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, one of the world’s poorest and most densely-populated places where Israel severely restricts the movement of people, goods and financial aid.

The Islamist Hamas movement, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, disapproves of what it considers un-Islamic shows, such as Arab Idol, but has not officially clamped down on support for Arab Idol or Assaf, according to AFP.

Rocket of peace

In a previous episode of the program, popular Lebanese singer and jury member Ragheb Alama had described Assaf as “the best rocket” to have come out of Gaza, and as “a rocket of peace, not war,” according to AFP.

Announcing Assaf’s nomination as regional ambassador for youth minutes after his win, the agency’s chief Filippo Grandi said: “All Palestinians share in his success. Mohammed’s music is a universal language and speaks to all of us. How fantastic that a Palestine refugee from Gaza should bring us all together in this way.”

(With AFP)

[AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]