Not Free Hugs

Today, the BBC is reporting on the information warfare raging between rival Palestinian factions on YouTube. "Gaza Militants launch 'web-war'." In light of the rhetorical impact of the infamous "Free Hugs" video, which has garnered over fifteen million views, it is interesting that hugging is considered a politically suspect act in the videos produced by both Hamas and Fatah.

In one Fatah video, the dismissed Prime Minister Ismail Haniya is shown embracing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran - picking up on Hamas's close links with Shia Muslim Iran to discredit the Islamist movement.

There is also an image showing him embracing a rabbi.

. . .

Hamas touches on the same theme with a video showing the late Fatah-founder Yasser Arafat embracing "the enemies of the Palestinian people" Ayatollah Khomeini, as well as the Pope.