Fatah: Murderer of two is Palestinian “nation’s symbol”
Fatah: Murderer of two
is Palestinian "nation's symbol"
is Palestinian "nation's symbol"
"We will continue to walk in his path"
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Until he was released by Israel last week, murderer Issa Abd Rabbo was serving two life sentences for murdering two Israeli university students. Ron Levi and Revital Seri were hiking south of Jerusalem on Oct. 22, 1984, when Issa Abd Rabbo attacked them, tied them up at gun point and put bags over their heads. He then shot and murdered them both. He was released in October 2013 as one of 104 prisoners to be released by Israel, which was the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.
The Fatah movement, headed by Palestinian Authority Chairman Abbas, sees this murderer as:
"One of our nation's symbols and one of our greatest leaders"
A week before his release, an official Fatah Facebook page marked the 30th anniversary of Abd Rabbo's murders and his arrest, which was referred to as "this great day." The page administrator stated that Fatah stands "respectfully, proudly, and with admiration" for "our symbol and [the symbol] of our pioneer movement, the Palestine National Liberation Movement, Fatah, the symbol of the prisoners, our brother and leader Issa Abd Rabbo."Fatah expressed "feelings of utmost loyalty and devotion" to the murderer and "his path":
"On this great day we express feelings of utmost loyalty and devotion to our brother Issa [Abd Rabbo]. We will continue to walk in his path, the way of resolve and defiance, the way of loyalty to our great Martyrs."
"In the name of Allah, in the name of Fatah, in the name of Palestine" the administrator addressed Fatah prisoners:
"Proud courageous army, oh upright legions of Palestine, lovers of freedom, carriers of the Martyrs' (Shahids') banner, stars of evident victory, great brothers from Fatah. Oh giants of struggle, victory and Martyrdom-seeking, oh lions of resolve and defiance despite the repressive chains. Oh you, who with your resolve, your blood, and your souls inscribe the most glorious battles of bravery and sacrifice on the pages of the struggle, and paint the most beautiful painting of the resistance and the struggle..."
Last week, Palestinian Media Watch documented that PA and Fatah Chairman Abbas greeted Abd Rabbo and 20 other released murderers as "our heroic brothers." At a PA ceremony celebrating their release, Abbas embraced and kissed each murderer and appeared on stage raising Abd Rabbo's hand in the air.In the past, Abbas has stated that he views all prisoners, including the ones who killed, as soldiers who were sent by the PA to do their "duty of resistance."
Terrorist Abd Rabbo has previously been honored by Abbas and by official PA TV.
PMW has documented that the PA and Fatah as policy honor and glorify terrorist murderers.
The following is a longer excerpt of Fatah's text praising murderer Abd Rabbo:
"In the name of Allah, in the name of Fatah, in the name of Palestine and in your name, you who keep the flame burning. In your name, oh free people of Palestine, oh proud courageous army, oh upright legions of Palestine, lovers of freedom, carriers of the Martyrs' (Shahids') banner, stars of evident victory, great brothers from Fatah. Oh giants of struggle, victory and Martyrdom-seeking, oh lions of resolve and defiance despite the repressive chains. Oh you, who with your resolve, your blood, and your souls inscribe the most glorious battles of bravery and sacrifice on the pages of the struggle, and paint the most beautiful painting of the resistance and the struggle...
On this great day, October 21, 1984 (i.e., the day terrorist Issa Abd Rabbo murdered two Israelis, see below), we stand respectfully, proudly, and with admiration for one of our nation's symbols and one of our greatest leaders, who spent his best years in the Zionist occupation's fortresses (i.e., prisons). On October 21, 2013 our symbol and [the symbol] of our pioneer movement, the Palestine National Liberation Movement, Fatah, the symbol of the prisoners, our brother and leader Issa Abd Rabbo, known as Abu Ghadab, begins his 30th year in the dungeons of Zionist captivity...
Our leader and the prisoners' symbol, Issa Abd Rabbo, stands firm and promote the slogan that says 'We will die standing and will not kneel.' Yes, we will die but we will uproot death from our land and not kneel...
On this great day we express feelings of utmost loyalty and devotion to our brother Issa [Abd Rabbo]. We will continue to walk in his path, the way of resolve and defiance, the way of loyalty to our great Martyrs, foremost among them our symbol and great leader, Yasser Arafat 'Abu Amar.'"
[Facebook, "Fatah - The Main Page," Oct. 22, 2013]