Rechov Sumsum — Shara'a Simsim

Dafihaneen — Dafi from Israel with Haneen from Palestine

Rechov Sumsum and Shara'a Simsim are the names for the Israeli/Palestinian co-production of Sesame Street. Premiering in April 1, 1998, the series was inspired by the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords, and featured Moishe Oofnik and a re-designed Kippi Ben Kippod from the early Rechov Sumsum, joined by new Israeli Muppet Dafi and two new Palestinian Muppets, Kareem and Haneen.

The characters lived on separate streets, but in a controversial move, occasionally met by crossing over on friendly visits. Seventy episodes were produced, before a new co-production with the Palestinian Authority (PA) began in 2002.

Now called Sesame Stories and produced by Al Quds University’s Institute of Modern Media, and based on reflections that promoting friendship between Muppet characters and humans from the warring nations was too much to ask, the current series keeps the characters confined to individual separate co-productions, with different Muppets for each nation/entity (the PA, Israel, and Jordan). Kareem and Haneen were kept by Palestine, but the Israeli Muppets have been replaced by Noah and Brosh.

In 2007, an independent Shara'a Simsim series debuted.