Mohammed Assaf Carries Palestinian Hopes
Daoud Kuttab reviews emerging Palestinian singing star Mohammed Assaf, who will participate this weekend in the finals of popular TV program "Arab Idol."
When Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad broke his silence following the acceptance by President Mahmoud Abbas of his resignation, the topic he chose to discuss was not overtly political. Using his Facebook page, Salam Fayyad wrote the following words: “I call on all Palestinians to support the Palestinian artist Mohammed Assaf, who is deservedly representing Palestine in the second season of 'Arab Idol.'”
Support of an artist by a politician is not usually the best path to success, but in the Palestinian case, the words from Fayyad were welcomed by Assaf, who is being supported by Palestinians and Arabs in general throughout the made-for-TV competition.
Twenty-three-year-old Assaf was born in Libya in 1989 and moved back to Gaza in 1994, and is now studying public relations at Gaza’s Palestine University. His voice is said to be very close to the late Egyptian sensation Abdel Halim Hafez, an issue that has brought him fame and some controversy. Using parts of the late Egyptian’s name, some have called Assad Hilm Falastine (Palestine’s Dream).
Some have attacked Fayyad for using his Facebook page to support a singer rather than hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners. Another controversy erupted regarding which song the young Palestinian should sing in the "Arab Idol" finals Saturday night. His nationalistic Palestinian supporters want him to sing one of the folkloric Palestinian songs, while he is considering singing a famous Egyptian song.
