Shara'a Simsim (Arabic: شارع سمسم) is a Palestinian educational television program for preschoolers based on the popular U.S. children's show Sesame Street. The series first started out in 1998 as a joint program with the Israeli version of Sesame Street, "Rechov Sumsum" as a way to combine Israeli-Jews and Israeli-Arabs to generate a message of coexistence. This production included 50 episodes and featured already existing characters, an Israeli Muppet was named Dafi, and two Arab muppets named Haneen and Kareem. When the co-production dissolved, Palestine would receive their own program in 2002 called Hikayat Simsim. In May 2007, the series was revamped, beyond the Muppet only skits, and renamed, "Shara'a Simsim", reflecting the original Arabic title from 1998. Original Muppet characters Rechov Sumsum/Shara'a Simsim (The third series of "Rechov Sumsum"/original series of "Shara'a Simsim") Haneen (Fadi al-Ghoul) – a happy young orange monster Kareem (Rajai Sandouka) – a green rooster Dafi (Irit Shilo) – Haneen's best friend; a happy young purple monster. Kippi Ben Kippod (Guy Friedman) – a porcupine who lives on "Rechov Sumsum". Moishe Oofnik (Gilles Ben David) – a brown grouch from "Rechov Sumsum" who lives in a broken car. Hikayat Simsim" (The second series) and Shara'a Simsim (The third series): Haneen (Fadi al-Ghoul) Kareem (Rajai Sandouka) See alsoRechov Sumsum Shara'a Simsim'' Sesame Street international co-productions Television shows featuring puppetry Palestinian television shows