-- ABU DIS, West Bank -- Fahed Abu Haj, curator of the Abu Jihad Palestinian Political Prisoners Museum, greets visitors with a meant-to-shock claim: "The first Palestinian prisoner was Jesus," he says.Apparently, that "three square meals a day thing" is totally over-rated. The really important thing is to build monuments to spread your propaganda.
With that salvo, Abu Haj introduces a place that is part symbol and part propaganda. The museum reflects a shared experience that Palestinians consider central to building their national identity: Israeli jail.Hmmmm... there's something that feels a little off here.
The museum opened in April and cost $750,000 to construct. A Kuwaiti charity provided the funds.
One notable omission from the museum is any mention of prisoners from Hamas, the movement that defeated Fatah in legislative elections last year.Oh yeah... that.
Technorati Tags: Fahed Abu Haj, bread, not circuses, Abu Jihad Palestinian Political Prisoners Museum
