PA gives “refrigerator bomber” official military funeral
PA gives "refrigerator bomber"
official military funeral
Abbas calls him a "righteous son"
and "loyal fighter"
official military funeral
Abbas calls him a "righteous son"
and "loyal fighter"
Terrorist Abu Sukkar planned bombing
with an explosives-packed refrigerator, killing 15
Abbas: Sukkar died after "a journey of struggle
full of exceptional giving"
Abbas's representative: "His good and wonderful deeds
for this nation... will always remain an example for us"
Rajoub: “We emphasize our adherence to the values and goals
he dedicated his long life to protect…
We commit to continue the way of his struggle”
Fatah about terrorist: "A brave, patriotic,
loyal and honored fighter"
Zaki about bombing: "A wonderful and high quality operation"
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Yesterday, the Palestinian Authority honored terrorist Ahmad Abu Sukkar with an official military funeral. In a written eulogy Abbas referred to Abu Sukkar's life as:
"A journey of struggle full of exceptional giving and devoted activity for Palestine and for the freedom and honor of our people."
Terrorist Abu Sukkar planned a bombing attack with a refrigerator filled with explosives in 1975. The attack killed 15 and wounded more than 60 Israelis in a central square in Jerusalem. Abu Sukkar was sentenced to life in prison and served 28 years until he was released as a goodwill gesture towards the PA in 2003. He served as advisor to PA Chairman Arafat on prisoners' affairs and was a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council. Tuesday, he died of a heart attack in the PA.Inscription on wreath: "His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine." |
In an interview at the funeral, Al-Rahim said:
"We miss this man. He will remain in our minds and veins. His memory and his good and wonderful deeds for this nation and for this nation's cause will always remain an example for us to emulate."
In his eulogy Abbas referred to Abu Sukkar's "pure soul" and described him as "a righteous son and loyal fighter":
"With the death of this fighter, Palestine and its people have lost a righteous son and loyal fighter, devoted wholeheartedly to protecting our people's rights. He dedicated most of his life to this people's independence and paid with many years of his life in the occupation's prisons so that the dawn of freedom will break over the pure land of Palestine."
Deputy-Secretary of Fatah's Central Committee Jibril Rajoub praised Abu Sukkar as as “a tough patriotic fighter” and “the caring father of generations of struggle.” In his condolence telegram Rajoub vowed to keep the terrorist’s “principles and goals” and follow in his path:
“We emphasize our adherence to the principles and goals he dedicated his long life to protect… We commit to continue his way of struggle”
[Ma'an News Agency's website, July 17, 2013
and Jibril Rajoub's Facebook page July 16, 2013]
Referring to Abu Sukkar's bombing that killed 15, PA representative to Lebanon and member of Fatah Central Committee Abbas Zaki said:
"He [Abu Sukkar] started [out] with a wonderful and high quality operation (i.e., terror attack) using a refrigerator, that made the enemies lose sleep."
Fatah's spokesperson Ahmad Assaf stated to PA TV News:
"Abu Sukkar is an example of the brave, patriotic, loyal and honored fighter who dedicated his life to his people's cause and to his nation's cause."
[Official PA TV, July 17, 2013]
Fatah's youth movement Shabiba remembered Abu Sukkar as the "hero of the heroic 'refrigerator' operation" and "the living conscience of the Palestinian people," mourning his death as a loss "to free men of the world and to all of humanity."
Earlier this year, Palestinian Media Watchreported that official Palestinian Authority TV praised Sukkar's bombing attack as a "prominent operation."
Many PA and Fatah officials attended the funeral, among them:
- Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim, representing PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas
- Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Karake
- Deputy Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Ziad Abu Ein. (spoke at the funeral)
- District Governor of Ramallah and El-Bireh, Laila Ghannam (spoke at the funeral)
- Members of Fatah Central Committee: Mahmoud Al-Aloul (spoke at the funeral), Azzam Al-Ahmad, Abbas Zaki and Tawfiq Tirawi,
- Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), Qais Abd Al-Karim, (Abu Laila)
Click to view more examples of Abbas glorifying terrorists.
The following is the report in the official Palestinian Authority daily on Abbas' eulogy praise for terrorist Abu Sukkar:
"President Mahmoud Abbas and the [Palestinian] leadership eulogized the most veteran released prisoner and former member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council, Ahmad Jabarah Abu Sukkar (77) who died yesterday evening [July 16, 2013] in a hospital in the city of Ramallah after a severe heart attack. The deceased will be buried in a military funeral ...
The presidential eulogy stated: 'His pure soul passed on to the kingdom of Heaven during these blessed days in this honored month [Ramadan] after a journey of struggle full of exceptional giving and devoted activity for Palestine and for the freedom and honor of our people.'
The President said in the eulogy: 'With the death of this fighter, Palestine and its people have lost a righteous son and loyal fighter, devoted wholeheartedly to protecting our people's rights. He dedicated most of his life to this people's independence and paid with many years of his life in the occupation's prisons so that the dawn of freedom will break over the pure land of Palestine.'
The President expressed his sincere condolences to the family of the departed, to the admirers, friends and followers of the illustrious deceased. He [Abbas] prayed that Allah will cover him with his mercy and place him with the prophets, the righteous, the virtuous and the Martyrs...
The Fatah Movement... described him as 'The self-sacrificing hero of freedom and the most veteran [of the released prisoners] who terrified the occupation through his resolve in captivity.' In an announcement by the [Fatah] Mobilization and Organization Commission the movement saluted the soul of Martyr Abu Sukkar... The movement praised Abu Sukkar's bravery, his self-sacrificing operations, the most famous of them being the 'refrigerator' operation (i.e., terror attack)... It was Abu Sukkar who carried out the most famous military operation (i.e., terror attack), known as 'the Refrigerator [Operation]' on July 5, 1975 (should be July 4, 1975. Ed.) He was arrested later while returning from Jordan. An occupation military court sentenced him to a life sentence and an additional 30 years."
The presidential eulogy stated: 'His pure soul passed on to the kingdom of Heaven during these blessed days in this honored month [Ramadan] after a journey of struggle full of exceptional giving and devoted activity for Palestine and for the freedom and honor of our people.'
The President said in the eulogy: 'With the death of this fighter, Palestine and its people have lost a righteous son and loyal fighter, devoted wholeheartedly to protecting our people's rights. He dedicated most of his life to this people's independence and paid with many years of his life in the occupation's prisons so that the dawn of freedom will break over the pure land of Palestine.'
The President expressed his sincere condolences to the family of the departed, to the admirers, friends and followers of the illustrious deceased. He [Abbas] prayed that Allah will cover him with his mercy and place him with the prophets, the righteous, the virtuous and the Martyrs...
The Fatah Movement... described him as 'The self-sacrificing hero of freedom and the most veteran [of the released prisoners] who terrified the occupation through his resolve in captivity.' In an announcement by the [Fatah] Mobilization and Organization Commission the movement saluted the soul of Martyr Abu Sukkar... The movement praised Abu Sukkar's bravery, his self-sacrificing operations, the most famous of them being the 'refrigerator' operation (i.e., terror attack)... It was Abu Sukkar who carried out the most famous military operation (i.e., terror attack), known as 'the Refrigerator [Operation]' on July 5, 1975 (should be July 4, 1975. Ed.) He was arrested later while returning from Jordan. An occupation military court sentenced him to a life sentence and an additional 30 years."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 17, 2013]
The following are other statements praising terrorist Abu Sukkar:
"Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the Palestinian Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, eulogized veteran released prisoner, fighter Ahmad Jabarah Abu Sukkar.
He said in the telegram of condolence: “Deputy Secretary-General of the Fatah Movement, Jibril Rajoub informed the Arab nation, the Islamic nation and the Palestinian nation in the homeland, in captivity and in the diaspora of the great patriotic fighter’s death…
Ahmad Jabarah Abu Sukkar, who passed away on Tuesday evening, July 16, 2013, was almost 78 years old, he spent them [these years] as a tough patriotic fighter [fighting] against the occupation and the darkness of the prison and its jailers. He was one of the pioneers who joined the ranks of Al-Asifa (a Fatah unit) towards the end of the 1960s and fulfilled all duties of struggle with which he was charged… He was the caring father of generations of struggle… Before his pure soul, we emphasize our adherence to the principles and goals that he dedicated his long life to protect. Before Allah and our magnificent nation, we commit to continue his way of struggle, the way of the esteemed Martyrs (Shahids), the way of the illustrious people. [This way] was delineated by the symbol of our Palestinian nationalism - leader, Martyr, symbol, Yasser Arafat and the esteemed Martyrs who are the beacon of the homeland and nation and the banners of the great victory on the gates of our capital Jerusalem and [on] the [gates] of the first fathers’ cities, from the river to the sea, from the date trees of Gaza to the foot of the Galilee mountains.”
He said in the telegram of condolence: “Deputy Secretary-General of the Fatah Movement, Jibril Rajoub informed the Arab nation, the Islamic nation and the Palestinian nation in the homeland, in captivity and in the diaspora of the great patriotic fighter’s death…
Ahmad Jabarah Abu Sukkar, who passed away on Tuesday evening, July 16, 2013, was almost 78 years old, he spent them [these years] as a tough patriotic fighter [fighting] against the occupation and the darkness of the prison and its jailers. He was one of the pioneers who joined the ranks of Al-Asifa (a Fatah unit) towards the end of the 1960s and fulfilled all duties of struggle with which he was charged… He was the caring father of generations of struggle… Before his pure soul, we emphasize our adherence to the principles and goals that he dedicated his long life to protect. Before Allah and our magnificent nation, we commit to continue his way of struggle, the way of the esteemed Martyrs (Shahids), the way of the illustrious people. [This way] was delineated by the symbol of our Palestinian nationalism - leader, Martyr, symbol, Yasser Arafat and the esteemed Martyrs who are the beacon of the homeland and nation and the banners of the great victory on the gates of our capital Jerusalem and [on] the [gates] of the first fathers’ cities, from the river to the sea, from the date trees of Gaza to the foot of the Galilee mountains.”
[Ma'an News Agency's website, July 17, 2013
and Jibril Rajoub’s Facebook page July 16, 2013]
and Jibril Rajoub’s Facebook page July 16, 2013]
PA TV newsreader: "The Fatah Movement eulogized the illustrious deceased, whose journey of struggle was filled with exceptional giving and devoted activity for Palestine and for the freedom and honor of our people."
Fatah's spokesperson Ahmad Assaf to PA TV News: "Abu Sukkar is an example of the brave, patriotic, loyal and honored fighter who dedicated his life to his people's cause and to his nation's cause."
[Official PA TV, July 17, 2013]
Secretary-General of the Presidential Office Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim represented PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas at the funeral and laid a wreath from Abbas on the coffin.
Inscription on wreath: "His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine."
[Zamn Press News Agency's YouTube channel, posted July 17, 2013]
Interviews with Secretary-General of the Presidential Office, Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim and PA representative to Lebanon and member of Fatah Central Committee, Abbas Zaki in Fatah video posted on Fatah Information and Culture Commission's YouTube channel:
Secretary-General of the Presidential Office, Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim: "Brother Abu Sukkar was released 10 years ago. For over eight years, he has participated in activities and [attended] house visits to families of Martyrs (Shahids). We miss this man. He will remain in our minds and veins. His memory and his good and wonderful deeds for this nation and for this nation's cause will always remain an example for us to emulate."
PA representative to Lebanon and member of Fatah Central Committee, Abbas Zaki: "He started [out] with a wonderful and high quality operation (i.e., terror attack) using a refrigerator, that made the enemies lose sleep. He started [out] as an exemplary, self-sacrificing fighter and also in prison he was with a noble group of our Palestinian nation and they turned the detention centers into combat [training] schools."
[Fatah Information and Culture Commission's YouTube channel,
July 17, 2013]
Headline: "Fatah's Shabiba eulogizes fighter Ahmad Jabarah Abu Sukkar"
"Fatah's [youth movement], Shabiba, in the West Bank published an announcement eulogizing the fighter whom Palestine has lost, Ahmad Jabarah, 'Abu Sukkar' who passed away last night [July 16, 2013] in Ramallah, as a result of a severe heart attack. He was almost 78.
Fatah's Shabiba said in its announcement that, with great sorrow and grief, it eulogizes the deceased, who is lost to free men of the world and to all of humanity. [He was] the living conscience of the Palestinian people, Ahmad Jabarah Abu Sukkar, most veteran of the Palestinian prisoners, one of Fatah's first leaders... and hero of the heroic 'refrigerator' operation (i.e., terror attack) in occupied Jerusalem in 1975...
The Shabiba has pledged to the heroic Martyr (Shahid) that it will follow the path of freedom, opposition and struggle until the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital."
[www.fatehorg.ps (the Fatah Mobilization and Organization Commission),
July 17, 2013]
Sources documenting the presence of PA and Fatah officials at terrorist Abu Sukkar's funeral:
[The town of Turmusaya's Facebook page, July 18, 2013]
[Zamn Press News Agency's YouTube channel, posted July 17, 2013]
[Fatah Mobilization and Organization Commission's YouTube channel, July 17, 2013]
[Zamn Press News Agency's YouTube channel, posted July 17, 2013]
[Fatah Mobilization and Organization Commission's YouTube channel, July 17, 2013]
Note: Ahmad Abu Sukkar - planned a bombing attack in 1975 in which a refrigerator filled with explosives was detonated in Jerusalem. 15 people were killed and over 60 people were wounded. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years, but was released from prison after 28 years as part of a goodwill gesture from Israel to the PA in 2003. He was a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council and an advisor to Arafat on prisoners' affairs.