Arabs Prefer Italian Broadcasts

Northern Advocate, 10 January 1938, Page 5

Arabs Prefer Italian Broadcasts

(Received 10 a.m.) JERUSALEM, January 8. rpiE ARABS SEEM TO PREFER TO LISTEN TO THE BARI-ITALIAN BROADCASTS. THE DIFFICULTIES CONFRONTING THE BRITISH ATTEMPT TO COUNTERACT ITALIAN PROPAGANDA ARE ENORMOUS. An Arab educationist states that the average Palestinian believes exaggerated versions of events. Last night, Bari broadcasts left no doubt that Italy is continuing her propaganda. The broadcast referred to Britain’s militaristic Government. Listening to anti-British propaganda has become a favourite pastime in the cafes, which are crowded during the Bari broadcasts. The irony is that they are picked up on wireless sets which Britain supplies to the Arabs free, in order to popularise the local Palestinian station. The presentation of news from Bari is done very cleverly. The announcer speaks the colloquial Arabic used by the mass of illiterate villagers, wiiich contrasts with the British over-educated style. Bari also refers to the Arabic renaissance movement as a magnificent national revolt and in similar phrases describes the terrorists as heroes and the casualties as martyrs. The speaker frequently talks of British oppression.