Iranian press picks up Amatory Zio-gum story

That's "Plan Dalet" gum--Dalet for desire! You've heard about this by now, no doubt. One sympathetic soul in the comments section of the relevant Daily Kos diary was outraged at the idea that the story is funny: "Let's all laugh at those silly Palestinians! haw haw haw, it's so funny! Maybe we can forget about the 50 year injustice that has been foisted upon them." Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting certainly doesn't feel it's a laughing matter. Their title: "Israel in new ploy to dispirit Gaza youth":

Gaza-based Palestinian government Hamas suspects that Israeli spy agencies are supplying the resistant Gaza Strip with chewing gum that boosts the sex drive in order to corrupt the young, an official said on Tuesday.

"We have discovered two types of stimulants that were introduced into the Gaza Strip from Israeli border crossings," Hamas police spokesman Islam Shahwan told AFP.

"The first type is presented in the form of chewing gum and the second in the form of drops," he said.

Hamas said it has detained members of a gang that helped to bring in the products.

"They admitted during the investigation they were linked to the Zionist intelligence services," he said.

One suspect said he had received the products from an Israeli intelligence officer at a cut-rate price "with the officer saying they did not want money, but to distribute the products among the young people of Gaza," Shahwan said.

"The intelligence services are aiming to corrupt the young generation by distributing these products among students," he added.

The Israeli military has declined to comment on the reports.

But of course . . .

The story is accompanied by the following picture of Gaza youth resisting corruption:

Crossposted on Soccer Dad