“Could it be that these mistranslations were done intentionally?”
But of course!
Who can you trust? Largely those whom the political and media elites insist that you cannot and must not trust.
“UN mistranslation concealed Abbas’ glorification of terrorists and PA’s pay for slay policy,” by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Ziberdik, Palestinian Media Watch, October 11, 2018:
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas during his recent speech at the UN General Assembly spoke of the “pure Martyrs” and “heroic prisoners” – “who [Israel says] it is forbidden to pay.” The UN’s simultaneous translator ignored Abbas’ blatant glorification of terror and defense of paying salaries to terrorists by changing his words with a mistranslation! Compare the texts:
What Abbas said in Arabic
“I pay tribute to our pure Martyrs and our heroic prisoners.
I say to all Palestinians: First, Israel considers [the Martyrs and prisoners] criminals.
Why? Why does it, when it has many thousands of people who have attacked everybody – and these are heroes?
Why is the one who murdered Rabin considered a hero and we – our people – are criminals whom it is forbidden to pay?
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Sept. 29, 2018]”
UN’s wrong translations
“I pay tribute to all freedom loving countries and peoples and our martyrs,
and I would like to tell all Palestinians, Israel considers them as criminals.
Why? In Israel there are thousands who used to assault everybody and they are considered heroes.
Why is that who killed Rabin is a hero while our people are criminals [translation missing here]?”
[Video of Abbas’ speech with simultaneous English translation on UN website , UN, Sept. 27, 2018]
The parts that were changed are very significant. When Abbas said “I pay tribute to our pure Martyrs and our heroic prisoners,” he was paying tribute to imprisoned and killed terrorists, including hundreds of murderers of civilians. This was odious terror glorification from the podium of the UN.
Mistranslating this as if Abbas was paying tribute to “all freedom loving countries and peoples and our martyrs,” made his words sound benign.
When Abbas a few sentences later complained that it is “forbidden to pay” these terrorists – a reference to the PA’s policy of paying salaries to terrorists and the international community’s condemnation of this practice – the UN translator omitted the reference to the salaries altogether!
Could it be that these mistranslations were done intentionally?…
Jayell says
The best and very common mistranslation that we get in the UK media is ‘Islam means Peace’. And they keep on getting it wrong even when they’ve been corrected. Very odd, that.
gravenimage says
UN “mistranslation” conceals Abbas’ glorification of jihad terrorists and PA’s pay for slay policy
……………….
This from the UN was just appalling. But then, consider their enabling of Jihad in the past.
J D S says
Mistranslation ???? The only mistranslation here, or anywhere, is….that islam is peaceful….There is..NO PEACE in Islam..From inception in the demented brain of Muhammad to the present time there has never been peace in Islam. Islam is continually at war .and the PA is living proof of this.
mortimer says
CORRECT TRANSLATION OF PALLY COMMUNICATIONS:
“IT ISN’T BARBARIC SAVAGERY WHEN WE DO IT.”
Frank Anderson says
Would it make any sense to spend time and money learning Arabic to keep from being misled by phony translations? I don’t know–I am asking for thoughts and suggestions.
carpediadem says
Of course!
Frank Anderson says
Please tell me what you think?
Jon B says
In Arabic Palestinians yell ‘Kill the Jews’ Common response by English translators: “They don’t mean Jews, they only mean Israelis.” Response of the global public, “Oh well, that’s alright, then.”Jon
Abu_Lahab says
There has been a phenomenal amount of cash wasted on the fraud that is Palestine.
The only reasonable solution is to remove the perpetual victims to a more fitting habitat, such as Ethiopia.
FYI says
It always looks like Abbas is either doing the Macarena or playing charades in that picture.
“Ten letters?Oh..I know this one..P-A-L-L-Y-S-T-E-I-N.can you make up words?…like “palestine” is made-up”