Mid-East peace song is broadcast

Israel has bombed Palestinian radio offices in the past

A love song performed by an Israeli and a Palestinian has been broadcast simultaneously on Israel Army Radio and Voice of Palestine radio.

The bilingual duet, entitled In My Heart, was sung in Hebrew and Arabic by Israeli David Broza and Palestinian Wisam Murad.

The two singers said they hoped the track would narrow the divisions between their communities.

Fighting has dropped off since an Israeli-Palestinian summit last month.

Broza, who wrote the lyrics with Murad's brother Said during sessions in Jerusalem that began two years ago, is well known in Israel for his folk and rock songs.

The Murads, Palestinians from Jerusalem, are known internationally as part of Sabreen, a group whose songs have explored the lives of Palestinians under Israeli occupation.

Sparring

An Israel Army Radio announcer and the head of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) spoke on both stations, talking of their hopes for a new era of peace - but also sparring briefly in English over the airwaves.

"Have you stopped, sir, incitement messages in your broadcasts?" Army Radio's Razi Barkai asked PBC director Adwan Abu Ayash.

"We did not start it," came the reply.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, the coach of leading English Premiership football team Chelsea, Jose Mourinho, is due to arrive in Tel Aviv for an Israeli-Palestinian peace match.