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| Gaza singer Mohammed Assaf wins Arab Idol contest | Gaza singer Mohammed Assaf wins Arab Idol contest |
| (3 days later) | |
| Celebrations have erupted across the Palestinian territories at news that a wedding singer from the Gaza Strip has won the Arab Idol talent TV show. | Celebrations have erupted across the Palestinian territories at news that a wedding singer from the Gaza Strip has won the Arab Idol talent TV show. |
| Mohammed Assaf, 23, was a virtual unknown until a few weeks ago but has now become a local hero. | Mohammed Assaf, 23, was a virtual unknown until a few weeks ago but has now become a local hero. |
| The contest, held in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, was watched by millions across the region. | The contest, held in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, was watched by millions across the region. |
| Fireworks were being set off in Gaza City and East Jerusalem as revellers thronged the streets. | Fireworks were being set off in Gaza City and East Jerusalem as revellers thronged the streets. |
| Assaf was declared the winner on Saturday evening, a day after he competed in a final against two other singers - Ahmed Jamal from Egypt and Farah Youssef from Syria. | Assaf was declared the winner on Saturday evening, a day after he competed in a final against two other singers - Ahmed Jamal from Egypt and Farah Youssef from Syria. |
| The talent contest has been broadcast on the Beirut-based MBC TV channel since March. | The talent contest has been broadcast on the Beirut-based MBC TV channel since March. |
| His last solo song, performed on Friday, had a political edge, asking for the Palestinian traditional scarf to be raised and calling for reconciliation, the BBC's Yolande Knell reports from Gaza City. | His last solo song, performed on Friday, had a political edge, asking for the Palestinian traditional scarf to be raised and calling for reconciliation, the BBC's Yolande Knell reports from Gaza City. |
| Hamas quiet | Hamas quiet |
| While Assaf was born in Libya to Palestinian parents, it is the first time a singer living in Gaza has won the prestigious event. | While Assaf was born in Libya to Palestinian parents, it is the first time a singer living in Gaza has won the prestigious event. |
| "Mohammed Assaf didn't free Palestine," wrote one blogger on Twitter. "But he brought joy to people who didn't smile for the past 66 years of occupation." | "Mohammed Assaf didn't free Palestine," wrote one blogger on Twitter. "But he brought joy to people who didn't smile for the past 66 years of occupation." |
| Traffic in Gaza City was gridlocked late into the night and middle-aged men danced in the streets in celebration. | Traffic in Gaza City was gridlocked late into the night and middle-aged men danced in the streets in celebration. |
| Palestinian public figures, including President Mahmoud Abbas, had called on all Palestinians to show their support for the singer. | Palestinian public figures, including President Mahmoud Abbas, had called on all Palestinians to show their support for the singer. |
| He also had the backing of big businesses, which produced posters for him and sponsored billboards. | He also had the backing of big businesses, which produced posters for him and sponsored billboards. |
| Although the show and its music are not liked by Hamas, which rules Gaza, it has kept relatively quiet about it, our correspondent says. | Although the show and its music are not liked by Hamas, which rules Gaza, it has kept relatively quiet about it, our correspondent says. |
| Assaf himself said he had had to plead with Hamas officials to let him leave Gaza - and then bribe Egyptian officials to let him into Egypt, the Associated Press news agency reported. As a result he arrived late for the auditions in Cairo. | |
| He was apparently allowed to compete only because another Palestinian contender handed him his audition slot on hearing his voice. | He was apparently allowed to compete only because another Palestinian contender handed him his audition slot on hearing his voice. |