Top PA official defends glorification of mass murderers as “stars”

Fatah Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub: Someone said [about us]: “They are praising the Martyrs.” Okay, sure! We are their followers. We are their soldiers. We were educated in their schools... Sure, I praise Abu Jihad, Abu Iyad (i.e., terrorists who planned numerous attacks), Yasser Arafat, and all these stars who are the ones who broke down all the obstacles, broke through all the barriers, and created the Palestinian nationalism for us. Why should we not praise them?
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We are the ones who gave the women their rights… Dalal Mughrabi (i.e., terrorist who led murder of 37), Fatima Barnawi (i.e., placed bomb in movie theater). If we didn’t have a culture like this, would we have wanted Dalal Mughrabi to lead an operation like this, and Fatima Barnawi? ...

The [Legislative] Council (i.e., PA Parliament) should be a beacon. A beacon for the entire world that will reflect the power of the Martyrs, prisoners, and all the fighters – and every Palestinian is a fighter.”