Egyptian pop star Shaaban Abdel Rahim, who had a smash hit on the Arab charts in 2000 with “I Hate Israel (and Love Amr Moussa),” is back on the scene with the cheery pop confection “Hey Arabs Leaders!” The new song blames Israel for the World Trade Center attack, and says that Israel and the US are dividing up the Arab world.

Shaaban’s music video is available with subtitles at the link above (Itamar Marcus’ essential Palestinian Media Watch); the cartoon treatment of the WTC collapse is especially memorable.

“…Two faces of the same coin, America and Israel.
They made the world a jungle and ignited the fuse.
America spread its wings, doesn’t care at all.
No one can stop her, no one can catch her.
Soon he (Bush) will say Iran, then he will say Syria,
But he is silent about [North] Korea.
About that [Twin] Tower, oh people
Definitely! His friends [Israel] were the ones who brought it down.
What terrorism!! [Visual shows Sharon pushing the button]
How many years are left.
For America and Israel acting as bullies… ”

The singer, Shaaban Abdul Rahim, was interviewed in the official PA daily Al Hayaat Al Jadida this week, and said that his feelings of hatred of Israel and the US were representative of the sentiments of the Arab world in general.