Grover, the charismatically blue character from the classic televised children's show Sesame Street, seems to be playing both sides of the Israeli-Arab conflict of late. The furry 'muppet' is hosting a new version of Jewish-themed Shalom Sesame to be aired on Hanukkah - but has also been heard declaring "We're off to Palestine!" in an introduction to a Sesame Street video.

The video segment named "A Gift from Grandma," features a Palestinian Authority girl named Salwa who helps her grandmother embroider a dress for her. Some viewers were incensed at the use of the name "Palestine" - a nonexistent state, at least as far as Israel is concerned, and one that will only be established if and when negotiations between Israel and the PA bear fruit.

Despite the "Palestine" video, it seems that declaring Sesame Street hostile to Israel would be premature. In fact, Sesame Street is about to release a new version of "Shalom Sesame" - a Jewish-themed version of Sesame Street that teaches Jewish-American preschoolers about their heritage. Actors Jake Gyllenhaal, Christina Applegate, Ben Stiller, Greg Kinnear, Debra Messing, Cedric the Entertainer, Anneliese van der Pol and many others are featured in the 12-part series that follows Grover as he meets children in the US and travels to Israel to visit some of Judaism's most prominent sites.

The show was first adapted from the original Sesame Street in 1986 and then again in 1990. Past guests on the show, which aired on American public television, included Joan Rivers, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mandy Patinkin, Mary Tyler Moore, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. The first installment of Shalom Sesame will premiere around Chanukah-time.

via israelnn.com