Syrian Actress Amal 'Arafa: Hatred of Israel Is in Our Genes and Blood; No Peace Treaty Will Change That

Following is an interview with Syrian actress Amal 'Arafa, which aired on Al-Hiwar TV on October 4, 2008:

Interviewer: If political circumstances change, what will happen?

Amal 'Arafa: Policies may change, but there is something that is already in my genes. We've been brought up to hate Israel. It's in our genes. If Arab countries make political decisions, and there is peace, and so on and so forth... First of all, who would be against peace? I am not against peace.

Interviewer: Of course not.

Amal 'Arafa: But as far as I am concerned, Israel will continue to be a black, dark, and murky spot in my memory, in my genes, and in my blood. Even though I am Syrian and not Palestinian, the Syrian upbringing we received and by which we lived – we've sucked it with the milk of our mothers. There is no playing around with this, it's in our genes, and we will pass this down for many more generations.