Murder an Israeli and become famous
PA names plaza
after terrorist murderer Maher Younes
after terrorist murderer Maher Younes
PA officials at ceremony honoring the murderer:
"We are proud of this great man, this fighter, this leader, and raise our heads because of this man"
"The city of Tulkarem is honored to name this plaza after heroic prisoner fighter Maher Younes... We'll remain loyal to our heroic prisoners who are the leaders of the future and honor guards of the entire Arab nation"
The Maher Younes Plaza was named after one of the Israeli Arab terrorists who kidnapped and murdered Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg
By Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Murder an Israeli and become famous - that is the repeated message from the Palestinian Authority to Palestinians. The PA has reiterated this again by naming a plaza in the Palestinian town of Tulkarem after Israeli Arab terrorist prisoner Maher Younes who, together with his cousin, Karim Younes, kidnapped and murdered Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980. Both murderers were sentenced to life imprisonment, which was commuted by former Israeli president Shimon Peres to 40 years.
"The Maher Younes Plaza" was inaugurated in Tulkarem in April at a ceremony that included scouts marching and playing music, and speeches by two PA officials: Tulkarem District Governor Issam Abu Bakr and Tulkarem Mayor Muhammad Yaqub. Terrorist Younes' mother cut the inaugural ribbon to the plaza, and the terrorist's sister gave a speech. The PA officials emphasized that Younes is "a great man" and "a hero":
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Tulkarem District Governor Issam Abu Bakr: "We are proud of this great man, this fighter, this leader, Maher Younes, and raise our heads because of this man. This man, the cousin of Karim Younes (i.e., his accomplice in the murder) - they have spent over 35 years [in prison] for the Palestinian people, for the Palestinian people's freedom. We are proud of them."
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Tulkarem Mayor Muhammad Yaqub: "The city of Tulkarem is honored to name this plaza after heroic prisoner fighter Maher Younes. The prisoner honors the city of Tulkarem, and not the opposite. The presence of a plaza named after him is a great honor for us. I say to the prisoner's mother, and to his sister, that their tears are pearls on the crown of the future Palestinian state, Allah willing. We'll continue to be committed, and we'll remain loyal to our heroic prisoners who are the leaders of the future and honor guards of the entire Arab nation."
[Al-Salam, Palestinian internet TV channel, April 17, 2018]
It is the family of terrorist prisoner Maher Younes that has funded the renovation and paving of the plaza, which the Tulkarem District Governor has authorized be used for the project:"The Tulkarem Municipality contributed a plaza that is located on one of the sidewalks near the refugee camp of Tulkarem on Nablus Street in the east of the city, at the decision and order of Tulkarem District Governor Issam Abu Bakr, and prisoner Younes' family is funding its renovation and paving."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 18, 2018]
During his years in prison, Maher Younes has received a salary from the PA. Since his arrest in January 1983 and until today, May 2018 included, the PA has rewarded Younes with an estimated 1,443,700 shekels ($416,363). Possibly some of this money has been spent by his family on the new plaza named after him. The PA has paid the Younes cousins a combined total of at least 2,887,400 shekels ($832,726).
A plaque at the plaza shows a picture of Maher Younes and two doves with olive branches held in their beaks.
Text on plaque: "Prisoner Major-General Maher Abd Al-Latif Younes Plaza
Born in the village of 'Ara in the Triangle (i.e., a concentration of Israeli-Arab towns and villages in northern Israel)
Date of arrest: Jan. 19, 1983 (sic., Jan. 18, 1983)
Sentenced to life"
Born in the village of 'Ara in the Triangle (i.e., a concentration of Israeli-Arab towns and villages in northern Israel)
Date of arrest: Jan. 19, 1983 (sic., Jan. 18, 1983)
Sentenced to life"
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 18, 2018]
Note that the plaque refers to the terrorist as "Major-General." According to PA law, the longer a terrorist is in prison the higher his military rank. The following chart, from the PA Regulation, Decision No. 15 of 2013, Issue 103 of the Records, published Dec. 8, 2013, shows the ranks given by the PA to terrorist prisoners: Number of years in prison | Military rank |
5-6 years | Lieutenant |
6-8 years | Captain |
8-10 years | Major |
10-15 years | Lieutenant Colonel |
15-20 years | Colonel |
20-25 years | Brigadier General |
25-30 years | Major General |
30 years and above | Major General (senior) |
[WAFA, the official PA news agency on Dec. 12, 2013]
PMW has previously reported on the establishment of a Maher Younes Square in Tulkarem. The new plaza is located in the center of the city and may have replaced the previous square. Palestinian Media Watch has documented the PA's practice of honoring terrorists and murderers by naming structures and events after them. PMW's report From Terrorists to Role Models details 100 examples of schools, streets, buildings, sporting events, summer camps, and ceremonies named after terrorists.
Other squares the PA has named after terrorists include the "Martyr Khaled Nazzal Square," named after the mastermind of the Ma'alot Massacre in which 22 children and 4 adults were murdered. PMW's exposure of that square led to protests and pressure by Israel. The Jenin mayor was forced to remove the square, but then later restored it due to Palestinian pressure. After the monument was restored the Israeli army tore it down again while Fatah vowed to rebuild it, and a solidarity monument was erected in Ramallah.
The following are excerpts of reports on the naming of the plaza in Tulkarem after terrorist murderer Maher Younes:
Headline: "Inaugurating Prisoner Younes Plaza amid tears and hope"
"Um Nader stood for a while and prepared to cut the red ribbon of the plaza named after her son prisoner Maher Abd Al-Latif Younes (i.e., terrorist, murdered 1 together with accomplice), and it looked as if she was preparing to meet her son who the occupation has prevented her from seeing for more than a quarter of a century...
The Tulkarem Municipality contributed a plaza that is located on one of the sidewalks near the refugee camp of Tulkarem on Nablus Street in the east of the city, at the decision and order of Tulkarem District Governor Issam Abu Bakr, and prisoner Younes' family is funding its renovation and paving...
Tulkarem District Governor Issam Abu Bakr said: 'We are proud of this mighty man, fighter commander Maher Younes, and his cousin Karim Younes (i.e., terrorist, murdered 1 together with Maher), who have spent over 35 years [in prison] for the freedom of the Palestinian people.'
He added that the preparation of a square bearing prisoner Maher Younes' name constitutes a sign of loyalty to the cause of the heroic prisoners in the occupation's prisons, pride in prisoner Younes and appreciation for his role in the struggle, and also honor for all the prisoners...
Tulkarem Mayor Muhammad Yaqub said: 'This plaza is an expression of the love and loyalty for the prisoners, for our people in the Interior (i.e., Palestinian term for Israel), and for all of the members of our people.'
In addition, Secretary of the Fatah Movement's Tulkarem Branch Hamdan S'eifan emphasized that the prisoners are the first line of defense for our Palestinian people everywhere it is."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 18, 2018]
Video from the inauguration of a plaza in Tulkarem named after terrorist murderer Maher Younes, who kidnapped and murdered Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg together with Karim Younes:Visual: Palestinian scouts walk in a procession as part of the inauguration ceremony in Tulkarem, some are playing music. Those leading the procession are carrying a large sign. In the upper left corner of the sign was the logo of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front (PPSF), which includes the Palestinian flag and the PA map of "Palestine" that presents all of Israel as "Palestine" together with the PA areas. At the bottom of the sign are pictures of several PPSF prisoners. PMW was unable to ascertain the crimes of these prisoners.
Tulkarem District Governor Issam Abu Bakr: "This is a great day; Tulkarem is gathering... and writes a new line in this district's book of loyalty... On this day, we are proud of this great man, this fighter, this leader, Maher Younes, and raise our heads because of this man. This man, the cousin of Karim Younes (i.e., murdered 1 together with Maher Younes) - they have spent over 35 years [in prison] for the Palestinian people, for the Palestinian people's freedom. We are proud of them, and are honored by the presence of members of this family...
We in Tulkarem, with all our constituents, are proud of you... I particularly thank the Tulkarem Municipality... and give thanks for the efforts invested by [Younes'] sister Nihad, who acted and worked diligently to cause the realization of this site...
In all our factions and institutions, in the Fatah Movement and all the Palestinian components, we... will remain loyal to the commitment, in all our universities, and in our [Fatah] Shabiba [Student Movement]... Our word is one, and we stand in a row for the unity of the Palestinian people. These are enormous messages. We will preserve the continuity between us forever, and we will not recognize these borders. You (i.e., Israeli Arabs; Younes is an Israeli Arab) are members of our people, and we are members of your people. You are strong thanks to us, and we are strong thanks to you. We will continue [to be loyal] to the commitment, forever and ever."
Tulkarem Mayor Muhammad Yaqub: "My brothers... the city of Tulkarem is honored to name this plaza after heroic prisoner fighter Maher Younes. The prisoner honors the city of Tulkarem, and not the opposite. The presence of a plaza named after him is a great honor for us. I say to the prisoner's mother, and to his sister, that their tears are pearls on the crown of the future Palestinian state, Allah willing. And we'll continue to be committed, and we'll remain loyal to our heroic prisoners who are the leaders of the future and honor guards of the entire Arab nation." ...
Maher Younes' sister Nihad Younes: "We gather today to honor one of our heroic prisoners behind prison bars for over 36 years, heroic prisoner Maher Younes. Today we honor not only Maher, but every Palestinian prisoner behind bars. They are all brothers, and they have one shared geography, one history, one religion, and one hope: the hope of liberating Palestine, all of Palestine. We say to all the prisoners: Do not fear the jailor, you are stronger than your jailors, by Allah, you who at one time were potential Martyrs (Shahids) and Allah wanted you to be prisoners... We support you and say to you: 'Know that on this land there is that which is worthy of life' (quote from a poem by Mahmoud Darwish -Ed.)... We thank the Tulkarem governor for supporting the prisoners' movement... and say to the prisoners: We are always with you, this is a revolution until victory."
Visual:Maher Younes' family presents an honorary plaque to Tulkarem District Governor Issam Abu Bakr.
Text on plaque: "Gratitude and appreciation
From Maj.-Gen. Prisoner Maher Abd Al-Latif Younes
To His Honor Tulkarem District Governor Issam Abu Bakr"
Tulkarem District Governor Issam Abu Bakr: "This day is part of the Palestinian Prisoner's Day activities. On this day we are proud of the long history of the Palestinian people's struggle. Since the beginning of the Zionist project, the Palestinian people has been resisting and struggling for freedom. Today in particular we [express] loyalty to our brave prisoners sitting in prison... We in Tulkarem are proud that we bestow honor on fighter Maher Younes. In other districts there are [ceremonies] for other symbols, but today we are at a ceremony for this great man who for 35 years has sacrificed the years of his life for his Palestinian people. We send a greeting to them all, and we anticipate the day when we will meet them in the land of Palestine, for a Palestinian state, and for the honor of the Palestinian people and its future."
[Al-Salam, Palestinian internet TV channel, April 17, 2018]
Maher Younes - Israeli Arab serving a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and murdering Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980 together with his cousin Karim Younes. Younes was originally sentenced to life in prison, but Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence in 2012.Mahmoud Darwish is considered the Palestinian national poet. He published over 30 volumes of poetry and 8 books of prose and has won numerous awards. He joined the Israeli Communist Party in 1961 and the terrorist organization PLO in 1973, becoming a member of the PLO Executive Committee in 1987. He left the PLO in 1993 because it signed the Oslo Accords with Israel.
Many in Israel see his poetry as inciting hate and violence. One poem he wrote in 1988 at the height of the Palestinian wave of violence and terror against Israel in which approximately 200 Israelis were murdered (the first Intifada, 1987-1993) calls to Israelis: "Take your portion of our blood - and be gone... Live wherever you like, but do not live among us... Die wherever you like, but do not die among us... Leave our country, our land, our sea, our wheat, our salt, our wounds, everything, and leave the memories of memory."
In 1964, he wrote a poem entitled "ID Card" in which he said: "I do not hate people, And I do not steal from anyone, But if I starve I will eat my oppressors' flesh; Beware, beware of my starving, And my rage."
He also wrote "Silence for the Sake of Gaza" in 1973, which many see as glorifying terror: "She wraps explosives around her waist and blows herself up. It is not a death, and not a suicide. It is Gaza's way of declaring she is worthy of life."
His defenders have claimed that Israel misinterprets his poetry and that he sought reconciliation with Israel. One wrote in 2017: "Darwish arranged meetings between Palestinian and Israeli intellectuals, and published essays on their discussions. He was optimistic that, through mutual understanding, the two sides could eventually reconcile." [https://www.bcalnoor.org/]