'Palestinians' accuse Israel of 'stealing' keffiyeh

In much of the West, the keffiyeh is regarded as 'terrorist chic' largely because it was worn by 'Palestinian' leader Yasser Arafat, but here in Israel, we are being accused by the 'Palestinians' of 'stealing' the keffiyeh from them, which they consider part of their 'national heritage.'

The PA has added the alleged theft and distortion of the keffiyeh to its growing list of accusations against the Jewish State, where the scarf is available in blue and white. Maha As-Saqa, director of a PA cultural center, charged Israel with the "robbery of Palestinian heritage."

She explained to the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency that the headscarf, popularized by PLO terrorist chief Yasser Arafat's black-and-white checkered keffiyeh, is a symbol of "revolutionaries" all over the world. It is "being stolen by Israelis and distorted by others in a way that harms its status," he charged.

As-Saga displayed for the news agency's reporters one headscarf with the blue and white colors of the Jewish state and another with an embroidered Jewish Star of David.

She also blamed PA tourism officials for allowing the sale of colored multicolored headscarves sold to tourists in Bethlehem. The cultural director suggested that lawsuits be filed against Israel for "cultural theft."

This is total nonsense. First, there were keffiyehs worn in Arab countries long before there were 'Palestinians.'

Second, keffiyehs have always been sold to tourists in Israel. I bought a red and white keffiyeh in 1972 (which I still own). They are commonly used here on Purim. And guess what - I bought it from an Arab (in those days, no one worried about there being something wrong about buying from Arabs - we still thought we could live with them).

Third, I have never seen a blue and white keffiyeh with or without a Magen David (Star of David).

So the 'Palestinian' charge is total nonsense. Just ask Rachel Ray.

Cross-posted to Israel Matzav.