“Greetings and love” to “heroic” murderer of soldier from PA TV host; Son of murderer: “I love to talk about his acts of heroism, he is a symbol and a hero”

Official PA TV program 'Giants of Endurance', on a visit to the home of terrorist prisoner Issa Darabi – who murdered Israeli soldier Shai Cohen – in Emresh, southwest of Hebron. Text on poster: “The Palestinian [PA-funded] Prisoners’ Club and the [PLO] Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs; Verdict: Life sentence; Most senior of the prisoners of the south, heroic prisoner Issa Salem Darabi” Official PA TV host: "We are currently with the family of the heroic prisoner, ‘‘the Falcon of the South’’ Issa Darabi, who is serving a life sentence. Issa Darabi, who has begun his 17th year in the occupation’s prison – we send you the best greetings and love..." Visual of Director of PLO Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Karake participating in the event. Prisoners’ Club Director in the Hebron District Amjad Al-Najjar: "I met this fighter, this Fatah giant, 26 years ago... This man decided to relinquish all of the privileges... Issa joined the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and was a role model. The operations (i.e., terror attacks) that he carried out were high quality operations. His stature is indeed as great as that of the homeland..." Official PA TV host: "As the son of a prisoner, when you go to school and everyone knows that this young man is the son of ‘‘the Falcon of the South’’ Issa Darabi, what does that mean to you?" Son of terrorist Issa Darabi: "It means everything to me. My father isn’t like other fathers. He is in a special situation, a prisoner. He did something I boast about and take pride in among my friends. I love to talk about him and his acts of heroism, because he is a symbol and a hero." Issa Darabi – Palestinian terrorist who was a member of PA Presidential Security Force 17 and former bodyguard of Yasser Arafat. On July 9, 2001, Darabi detonated an explosive targeting an Israeli army jeep in the south Hebron region and murdered Israeli soldier Shai Cohen. Darabi also placed an explosive on a road targeting the Israeli Army Chief of Staff’s convoy in November 2001. Darabi is serving a life sentence.