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PA minister speaks at ceremony honoring murderers

Official PA TV Live  |
Official PA TV broadcast the main ceremony for solidarity with the prisoners and released prisoners, held in Beit Fajar. PA Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Karake spoke at the ceremony.
PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Karake: “Our nation deserves freedom – our nation that gave and gave. Many have died. It [our nation] has given much, and has sacrificed many of its youth and best sons. This great nation, this nation which includes [the likes of] Fakhri Barghouti, Khaled Al-Azraq, Issa Abd Rabbo, Rizq Salah, Khaled Asakra, Abu Mahmoud and many of the prisoners sitting here – [such as] Adnan Al-Afandi – who have spent over twenty years in the occupation’s prisons; this nation, whose youth have spent their lives in prison; a nation that deserves life; a nation that deserves victory; a nation that deserves freedom.”

At the ceremony plaques of honor were given to the veteran Beit Fajar prisoners – those who have served over ten years and those still in prison.
The plaques were presented by Fatah Central Committee Member Abbas Zaki, PA Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Karake, Director of the Educational Administration for the Bethlehem District Nasrin Amr, and released prisoner Fakhri Barghouti, the representative of the released prisoners.


Notes: Fakhri Barghouti - was part of a Fatah squad that kidnapped and killed an Israeli officer in 1978. He is serving a life sentence for this killing.

Khaled Al-Azraq - placed an explosive device in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda open market on May 28, 1990. The bomb killed 71-year-old Shimon Cohen and injured 9. Al-Azraq was serving a life sentence in prison, but was released in October 2013 as one of the 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.

Issa Abd Rabbo - murdered two Israeli university students, Ron Levi and Revital Seri, who were hiking south of Jerusalem on Oct. 22, 1984. He tied them up at gunpoint, put bags over their heads, and then shot and murdered both. He was serving two life sentences until he was released in October 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.

Rizq Salah - killed Israeli soldier Guy Friedman and injured two others with a bomb in Bethlehem in 1990. He was arrested in 1993 and was sentenced to life in prison, but was released in October 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.

Khaled Asakra – a Fatah member who murdered 64-year-old French tourist Annie Ley (April 29, 1991). He was serving a life sentence, but was released in August 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.

Adnan Al-Afandi – was serving a 30-year prison term for the attempted murder of two young men in 1992. He was released in December 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.

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