REFORMATION IS FUN:

Rare TV satire mocks Palestinian politicians (ASSOCIATED PRESS , 9/10/09)

Palestine TV was once the boring channel that viewers skipped over while searching for entertainment. But this time, the state-run station has picked a winner - an irreverent comedy show that mocks and often bites the hand that feeds it: the government.

"Homeland on a Thread" satirizes inept Palestinian politicians, police bullies and Muslim extremists. It's Palestine TV's first ever attempt at political satire, an art form that remains rare in the Arab world where authoritarian regimes abound.

The 30-minute program's popularity is a sign that audiences are thirsting for more openness, said Manal Awad, one of three comedians featured in the skits broadcast every evening for the duration of the Muslim month of Ramadan.