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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."
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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.

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