Hate terminology in Arabic sanitized In English Translations by Palestinian News Service

by Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook
Palestinian Media Watch:

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The Ma’an News Service publishes numerous daily announcements in Arabic,
which it subsequently translates and releases in English. In recent stories,
PMW has noted that the Ma’an releases in Arabic include the hate ideology
espoused by the terror organizations that deny Israel’s right to exist,
express reverence for suicide terrorists and justify terrorist murder as
“resistance.” But when translated into English, the same stories go through
a sterilization process to hide from the English readers – and possibly from
the two Western countries, the Netherlands and Denmark, who give them
funding – the terrorist ideology Ma’an is helping to propagate.

The following are two examples:
1 – On Jan. 29, 2007, a suicide terrorist killed three Israelis in the city
of Eilat. The Ma’an Arabic report included the language of the terror
organizations, while the English was cleansed with changes and omissions,
including changes to the language of direct quotes. The differences are
striking:
Denial of Israel’s right to exist
In English Ma’an accurately reports that the event happened “in the southern
Israeli resort of Eilat.” But in the original Arabic, Eilat is changed from
an Israeli city to a Palestinian city occupied by Israel – reflecting the
terrorist assertion that all of Israel is “occupied Palestine.

Ma’an English: “.in the southern Israeli resort of Eilat.”
Ma’an Arabic in first reference: “. in Eilat located in the south of
occupied Palestine.”
Ma’an Arabic in second reference: “.carried out a brave deed and for the
first time in occupied Eilat.”
In the English the mother is referred to simply by her name and age:
“Ruwaida Siksik, 42.”
In Arabic Ma’an adds: ” Ruwaida Siksik, 42, whose family originated from the
occupied city of Jaffa.”

The routine definition in a news story of Jaffa, a part of southern Tel
Aviv, as “occupied” and Eilat as “occupied Palestine” is a way to
linguistically express denial of Israel’s right to exist, and is the
terminology used by the terror organizations.

Glorifying suicide terror as Shahada – revered Martyrdom

The act of the suicide bombing is likewise reported differently in the
English and the Arabic. The English refers to a “bombing,” while the Arabic
gives it an idyllic Islamic categorization of an “Amaliyyah
Ishtish’hadyyah” – a Shahada-seeking action. This is not merely a positive
categorization, but is defining the suicide bombing as an honored Islamic
action. The perpetrator is given the status of a Ishtish’hadi-
Shahada-seeker, who becomes after his death a Shahid – a revered holy
Martyr.

In Arabic:
“She heard the news on Monday morning that he died as a Shahid .

In English:
“Family of Eilat bomber”

In Arabic:
“mother of the Shahada-seeker”

Another interesting difference is that in the Arabic, the brother of the
bomber admits to knowing that his brother was leaving on a terror operation.
This is omitted from the English version.

2- The second article demonstrating the terror support by Ma’an is its
release yesterday about the murder of Erez Levanon, a 42-year-old Israeli
musician and father of three children, who was attacked and stabbed to death
by two Palestinians while praying in a field.

The Ma’an English:
“Palestinian sources told Ma’an that armed Palestinian men ambushed an
Israeli .”

The Ma’an Arabic:
“Palestinian sources told Ma’an that Palestinian resistance men ambushed an
Israeli .”

This is not just semantics. In choosing to categorize murder as
“resistance,” Ma’an is choosing the language used by terror organizations to
justify murder.

The following is the chart of the changes in the translation of the suicide
bombing story, followed by the visuals of yesterday’s story.

Ma’an in English
Family of Eilat bomber speak to Ma’an..
Ma’an in Arabic[PMW translation to English]
Mother of the Shahada-seeker [Martrydom Seeker - Islamic term of honor for
suicide bomber] and his wife speak .

Ma’an in English
She heard the news on Monday morning that he had blown himself up
Ma’an in Arabic
She heard the news on Monday morning that he died as a shahid [Islamic term
for revered Martyr]

Ma’an in English
in an unprecedented operation in the southern Israeli resort of Eilat.
Ma’an in Arabic
in an unprecedented operation in Eilat located in the south of occupied
Palestine.

Ma’an in English
Did his mother, Ruwaida Siksik, 42,
Ma’an in Arabic
Did his mother, Ruwaida Siksik, 42, whose family originated from the
occupied city of Jaffa,

Ma’an in English
know about her fourth son’s intention to operate in Israel?
Ma’an in Arabic
know about her fourth son’s intention to carry out a Shahada – Seeking
operation in Israel?

Ma’an in English
She said: “I knew he wished for Shahada .”
Ma’an in Arabic
She said: “I knew he wished for Shahada -Seeking and for Shahada.”

Ma’an in English
On Monday 29th January, the son’s identity was reported as being the bomber
of Eilat.
Ma’an in Arabic
On Monday, was reported the death as a Shahid of (her) son, and

Ma’an in English
The mother prayed that it may send a message to the fighting brothers in
Hamas and Fatah, to stop and direct their weapons against the Israeli
occupation.
Ma’an in Arabic
the mother prayed that Allah will receive her son as a Shahid.

Ma’an in English
She added that she is ready to sacrifice all of her nine sons and daughters
for Palestine and Al-Aqsa mosque.
Ma’an in Arabic
She added that she is ready to sacrifice all of her nine sons and daughters
for Palestine and Al-Aqsa mosque, and that she will not be stingy with them.

Ma’an in English
Muhammad’s brother, Na’im, 26, said: “What my brother has done is dignifying
for all of us.”
Ma’an in Arabic
Muhammad’s brother, Na’im, 26, said: “I knew he was leaving and I wished him
that he would achieve Shahada as he wants. When I heard the news about his
Shahada-seeking, I prayed for him, that Allah will receive him. What my
brother has done is dignifying for all of us.”

Ma’an in English
Nadia Siksik, wife of the deceased bomber, expressed pride over her
husband’s operation. She said: “. after what he has done for Palestine, I am
proud.”
Ma’an in Arabic
Nadia Siksik, wife of the Shahada-seeker expressed pride over her husband’s
operation. She said: “. after I was informed of his death as a Shahid today,
I am proud.”

Ma’an in English
The bomber’s little sister, Dalia, 13, burst into tears while she expressed
her pride over her brother, “who refused to be a victim of the clash of
brothers.”
Ma’an in Arabic
His youngest sister, Dalia, 13, burst into tears while she said:I am proud
of my brother Muhammad, “for he died a death of honor and refused to be a
victim of the bullets of brothers. He chose Shahada among his enemies and
carried out a brave deed and for the first time in occupied Eilat.”

Ma’an English: “armed Palestinian men”
Ma’an Arabic “Palestinian resistance men”

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