At championship dozens of terrorist murderers honored by Fatah, tournament named after arch-terrorist Abu Jihad
Dozens of terrorist murderers serving life sentences for murdering over 100 people
honored by Fatah at championship
named after arch-terrorist Abu Jihad
honored by Fatah at championship
named after arch-terrorist Abu Jihad
- Family members presented with honorary posters of their imprisoned terrorist relatives
- Another Abu Jihad Championship, which Israel banned in Jerusalem, was held in Qalandiya instead
By Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Arch-terrorist Abu Jihad (Khalil Al-Wazir), who organized terror attacks in which 125 Israelis were murdered, has been made into one of the greatest heroes by the Palestinian Authority. One of the PA and Fatah's ways to promote Abu Jihad as a role model to Palestinians is by naming sports tournaments after him. Thus Fatah's Bethlehem branch organized the
"Martyr Khalil Al-Wazir [Abu Jihad] and Loyalty to the Bethlehem District Prisoners [Futsal] Championship"
[Official Fatah Facebook page, May 1, 2018]
At this tournament, in addition to glorifying arch-terrorist Abu Jihad, Fatah also glorified other terrorists and murderers from the Bethlehem district who are serving numerous life sentences for murdering over 100 people. The terrorists' families were invited to a ceremony and given honorary posters with pictures of their imprisoned terrorist relatives. The terrorist prisoners who were honored by Fatah at the Abu Jihad Championship in the Bethlehem district included:
[All photos are from the Facebook page of the independent Palestinian news agency Al-Hadath, May 1, 2018]
Ali Abu Hleil - Palestinian terrorist involved in two suicide bombings on buses in Jerusalem - one on Gaza Street on Jan. 29, 2004, in which 11 were murdered, and one on Emek Refaim Street on Feb. 22, 2004, in which 8 were murdered. Over 100 people were injured in the two bombings. Abu Hleil is serving 21 life sentences.On Abu Hleil's poster is also written: "Heroic prisoner Ali Abu Hleil - life sentence"
Ahmad Salah - terrorist who is serving 21 life sentences for involvement in the two suicide bombings mentioned above. 
Mahmoud Salem Sarahneh - Palestinian terrorist who sent four suicide bombers to carry out three attacks in Jerusalem in 2002 in which 14 were murdered, and one in Rishon Lezion in which 2 were murdered. Jerusalem attacks: in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood on March 2, 2002, 11 murdered; in the Kiryat HaYovel neighborhood on March 29, 2002, 2 murdered; and on Neviim Street on April 1, 2002, 1 murdered. Rishon Lezion attack: May 22, 2002, 2 murdered. Sarahneh is serving 17 life sentences.
Ashraf Hajajreh - Palestinian terrorist who drove suicide bomber Muhammad Al-Shouani to Jerusalem's Beit Israel neighborhood where Al-Shouani carried out a suicide attack on March 2, 2002, murdering 11 people. Hajajreh is serving 12 life sentences.
Riyad Al-Amour - Palestinian terrorist and member of a Tanzim (Fatah terror faction) cell responsible for the murder of 9 Israelis - 5 soldiers and 4 civilians - in shooting attacks between October 2000 and March 2003, and for the murder of 3 Palestinians they suspected of collaborating with Israel. Al-Amour is serving 11 life sentences. 
Adnan Abayat - Palestinian terrorist and head of the Tanzim (Fatah terror faction) in Bethlehem who was responsible for a number of attacks in which 8 Israelis were murdered. Abayat was arrested by Israel on Aug. 24, 2004 and is serving multiple life sentences. PMW was unable to confirm the number of life sentences.
Hamza Omar Shamarkha - Palestinian terrorist who sent suicide bomber Andalib Takatka to carry out an attack at Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda outdoor market on April 12, 2002, in which 6 were murdered, and more than 80 wounded. Shamarkha is serving 6 life sentences and an additional 20 years.
Mahmoud Abu Sorour - Palestinian terrorist who participated in planning and carrying out the assassination of Israeli security agent Haim Nachmani on Jan. 3, 1993, in Jerusalem. Abu Sorour is serving a life sentence.
Mahmoud Abayat - Palestinian terrorist and member of the Tanzim (Fatah terror faction) involved in four shooting attacks in the West Bank from 2000-2001, in which 5 Israeli security force members were murdered. Abayat is serving 6 life sentences.
The posters from left to right are of the Israeli Arab terrorists Musa Sarahneh, Khalil Sarahneh, and Ibrahim Sarahneh. Ibrahim Sarahneh, Musa Sarahneh, and Khalil Sarahneh - Israeli Arab terrorists who drove three suicide bombers to attacks in Israel in which 5 were murdered.
Together with his wife, Irena Sarahneh, Ibrahim Sarahneh drove a suicide bomber to carry out an attack in which 2 were murdered and dozens injured in Rishon LeZion on May 22, 2002; with his brother, Musa Sarahneh, he drove suicide bomber Ayyat Al-Akhras to carry out an attack in which 2 were murdered and 28 wounded in Jerusalem on March 29, 2002; and with another brother, Khalil Sarahneh, he drove a suicide bomber to carry out an attack in which 1 was murdered in Jerusalem on April 1, 2002. Ibrahim Sarahneh is serving 6 life sentences; Khalil Sarahneh is serving 1 life sentence and 20 additional years; and Musa Sarahneh is serving 1 life sentence.
Muhammad Al-Tous - Palestinian terrorist and Fatah member who was the commander of a terrorist cell that attacked 5 civilian buses in September 1985, wounding 16 passengers. He also issued the command to murder Zalman Abolnik in March 1984, and Meir Ben Yair and Michal Cohen in July 1985, and took part in the murder of Mordechai Suissa and Edna Harari in October 1985. Al-Tous is serving 1 life sentence.
Muhammad Al-Badan - Palestinian terrorist who carried out a stabbing attack in the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem on Oct. 23, 2008, murdering 86-year-old Avraham Ozeri and injuring a police officer. Al-Badan is serving 1 life sentence and an additional 14 years.Palestinian Media Watch has previously reported that the Palestinian Football Association supervises an annual football championship named after terrorist Abu Jihad - a tournament that has been held for 24 years. This year, Israel banned the tournament in Jerusalem. As a result, the Palestinians postponed and moved "the 24th Prince of Martyrs Khalil Al-Wazir Abu Jihad Championship" to Qalandiya in the West Bank. [Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 8, 2018]
The following are excerpts of the reports on the Abu Jihad championships mentioned above:
Posted text: "From the Martyr Khalil Al-Wazir [Abu Jihad] and Loyalty to the Bethlehem District Prisoners [Futsal] Championship, which was organized by the Fatah Movement's Bethlehem branch. During it, family members of the prisoners from the district who are serving life sentences were honored."
[Official Fatah Facebook page, May 1, 2018]
Posted text: "Today, Tuesday, May 1, 2018, the Fatah Movement's Bethlehem branch organized the Martyr Khalil Al-Wazir [Abu Jihad] and Loyalty to the [Bethlehem District] Prisoners [Futsal] Championship, with the participation of 28 [Fatah] sub-branches in the Bethlehem district and in the presence of families members of Martyrs and prisoners from the district... At the end, family members of the prisoners from the Bethlehem district who are serving life sentences were honored."
Text on poster: "The Palestinian National Liberation Movement 'Fatah' -
Bethlehem Branch
Sub-branches
Martyr Khalil Al-Wazir 'Abu Jihad' and Loyalty to the [Bethlehem District] Prisoners [Futsal] Championship
Tuesday, May 1, 2018"
[Facebook page of the independent Palestinian news agency Al-Hadath,
May 1, 2018]
Headline: "The occupation banned the holding of a football championship in Jerusalem named after Martyr Abu Jihad"
"The Israeli occupation authorities today, Thursday [May 3, 2018], published an order signed by the occupation's [Israeli] Minister of Public Security extremist Gilad Erdan, that bans the holding of a football championship in Jerusalem named after Martyr (Shahid) 'Abu Jihad' [Khalil] Al-Wazir (i.e., terrorist responsible for murder of 125).
It should be noted that this championship has been held in the city every year for the last 24 years, and it was supposed to take place tomorrow, Friday, at the sports field of the Silwan school in the Ras Al-Amud neighborhood, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque."
[WAFA, official PA news agency, May 3, 2018]
Headline: "Repeat raffle for the 24th Prince of Martyrs Khalil Al-Wazir Abu Jihad Championship"
"Yesterday (Monday) [May 7, 2018], a repeat raffle was held for the 24th Prince of Martyrs (Shahids) Khalil Al-Wazir Abu Jihad Football Championship (i.e., terrorist, responsible for murder of 125), which has been organized by the Jerusalem Al-Ansar Club since 1995...
This was after it was decided to transfer the championship to a playing field in Qalandiya due to the arbitrary decision of Israeli Minister of Public Security [Gilad Erdan], who banned holding the championship last Friday at the playing field of the Silwan Junior High School or any playing field within what is called 'the Jerusalem Municipality borders'...
The matches of groups one and three will be held at 8:00 a.m., and the matches in groups two and four will begin immediately after Friday prayers."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 8, 2018]
Headline: "A central ceremony in Qalqilya on Prisoner's Day and the anniversary of the death as a Martyr of the Prince of Martyrs"
"The Qalqilya branch of the Fatah Movement, the [PLO] Commission of Prisoners and Released Prisoners' Affairs, and the [PA-funded] Prisoners' Club held a ceremony for Palestinian Prisoner's Day and the anniversary of the death as a Martyr (Shahid) of Prince of Martyrs [Khalil Al-Wazir] Abu Jihad (i.e., terrorist, responsible for murder of 125) under the title The First Bullet and the First Stone, which was held in the hall of the Fatah branch office in Qalqilya.
[Qalqilya] District Governor Rafe' Rawajbeh, Head of the [PLO] Commission of Prisoners and Released Prisoners' Affairs Issa Karake, Chairman of the Prisoners' Club Qadura Fares, [Fatah] Revolutionary Council member Iyad Al-Aqra, Fatah Movement [Qalqilya Branch] Secretary Mahmoud Walwil, and members of the branch participated in the ceremony....
The district governor emphasized the centrality of the prisoners' cause for the Palestinian people, and praised their resolve and willpower that produce victory and defiance against the impossible. He also noted that the just prisoners' cause is the central matter on our Palestinian leadership's agenda, due to its sanctity and honor. In addition, he said: 'The fact that Prisoner's Day is on April 17, together with the anniversary of the death as a Martyr of Prince of Martyrs Khalil Al-Wazir, has added an additional national dimension to this pure cause.' ...
At the end of the ceremony, tribute was paid to the prisoners from the district who are serving life sentences, as well as the prisoners of the [PA] security establishment."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 27, 2018]