Fatah official praises released prisoner; PA daily falsely claims prisoner had killed an Israeli

Headline: “Rajoub congratulates released prisoner Sarsawi”

“Fatah Movement Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub congratulated released prisoner Samir Sawsawi (i.e., terrorist, threw a hand grenade on a public street) on his release after 30 years in the occupation’s prison. Rajoub expressed hope that all of the Palestinian prisoners would achieve freedom, and expressed his pride in prisoner Sawsawi who passed his days in captivity in thought and activity for his homeland and his country…

Sarsawi was arrested in November 1988 and was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment (sic., he was sentenced to life but had his sentenced reduced in 2012) on a charge of throwing a grenade in one of the streets of Haifa, and of planting explosives that caused the death of an Israeli and the wounding of others in a number of separate operations (PMW could find no record of a murder or other attacks by him –Ed.).”

Jibril Rajoub also holds the following positions:  Head of the PLO Supreme Council for Sport and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee, and Chairman of the Palestinian Scout Association (PSA).

Samir Sarsawi – Palestinian terrorist who threw a hand grenade on Nordau St. in Haifa in 1988. Sarsawi was sentenced to life, but Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence to 30 years in 2012, and Sarsawi was released in November 2018.