Terrorist who planned murder of Israeli minister Ze'evi honored by PA
of Israeli minister Ze'evi
for "heroic sacrifice"
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Despite the ongoing peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, PA leaders persist in their glorification of killers of Israeli civilians. Recently, the PA's Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs chose to honor the families of several terrorists imprisoned in Israel "out of appreciation for their heroic sacrifice."
Among the terrorists honored at the ceremony were Ahed Abu Gholmeh, who is serving a life sentence for planning the murder of Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam Ze'evi ("Ghandi") in 2001, and Ahmad Sa'adat, who is serving a 30-year sentence for heading the PFLP terror organization. A song played at a PFLP event praised Sa'adat for planning the murder of the Israeli minister, but he has not been tried for this crime.
A few months ago, PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Karake visited Sa'adat's family and glorified the terrorist leader as:
"A symbol of freedom and a conscience for all humanity, who spent his life in the service of his people's freedom and independence."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 27, 2013]
Karake also said that "Ahmad Sa'adat represents all free men, honorable people and fighters and that he has been distinguished by his bravery, honesty and deep faith in the justice of his cause; [he] carried out acts of bravery and adopted fundamental and revolutionary positions during his path of struggle," the official PA daily reported.
At a recent Fatah event, chief PA negotiator and Fatah official Saeb Erekat also talked about Ahmad Sa'adat, promising his quick release. He also included terrorist Marwan Barghoutiin his statement, who is serving 5 life sentences for orchestrating terror attacks against Israeli civilians:
"Any self-respecting nation wages battles for its prisoner sons... Wait, Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Sa'adat and the [rest of the] prisoners; the release is near. We will not rest until we see you free among your people, so that you will take up your roles in building the independent State of Palestine on all of the homeland's territory."
[Al-Ayyam, Jan. 6, 2014]
Palestinian Media Watch has documented that PA Chairman Abbas himself on more than one occasion has chosen to honor terrorist leaders Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Sa'adat,wishing for their release. He has also praised Hamas military leaderIbrahim Hamed, who is serving 54 life sentences, and Abbas Al-Sayid, who is serving 35 life sentences. In April last year, Abbas singled out Sa'adat and Barghouti among "all these heroes," calling the arrest of terrorist Barghouti, jailed for the murders of at least 5 civilians, a "kidnapping":
"We will continue the fight for [the prisoners] until all these heroes, the prisoners of freedom, are freed. In a few days there will be a rally for brother Marwan Barghouti, who is a brother, prisoner and commander. We must mark the day of his [arrest] and salute him in his prison 11 years after he was kidnapped. Likewise, we cannot forget brother Ahmad Sa'adat and the rest of the leader prisoners, such as the MPs and the veteran [prisoners.]"
[Official PA TV News, April 19, 2013]
At the recent ceremony organized by the Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs, District Governor of Ramallah Laila Ghannam spoke on behalf of PA Chairman Abbas and "prayed for Allah to release all prisoners with no exceptions, as soon as possible, so they will enjoy freedom among their families and those who love them," the official PA daily reported.
Also honored at the event were Karim and Maher Younes, Israeli Arabs who are both serving a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and killing an Israeli soldier in 1980, as well as two other men imprisoned for their involvement in the attempt to smuggle 50 tons of illegal weapons into the PA aboard the Karin-A ship in 2002.
Click to see additional examples of Abbas' glorification of terrorists.
Click to see additional examples of terrorist killers honored by PA and Fatah officials.
The following are longer excerpts of the reports on the PA's honoring terrorists:
(See below for information about the honored terrorists)
Photo caption: "Honoring the family of leader prisoner Ahmad Sa'adat." |
"The [PA] Ministry of Prisoners' [Affairs], in cooperation with the [Palestinian] Prisoners' Club and the Supreme Council for Monitoring Prisoners' Affairs, honored the families of prisoners Ahmad Sa'adat, most veteran prisoner Karim Younes, most veteran female prisoner Lina Al-Jarbouni, as well as the families of prisoners Maher Younes, Ahed Abu Gholmeh, Fuad Al-Shubaki, Omar Al-Akkawi and Muhammad Al-Milh. This [was done] out of appreciation for their heroic sacrifice...
District Governor of Ramallah and El-Bireh Laila Ghannam delivered a speech on behalf of the President [Mahmoud Abbas] in which she told the prisoners' families: 'All Palestinians are your children, and the nations' willpower will undoubtedly overcome the occupation and its tyranny.' She prayed for Allah to release all prisoners with no exceptions, as soon as possible, so they will enjoy freedom among their families and those who love them."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 16, 2014]
"[PLO Executive Committee member Saeb] Erekat spoke during a rally organized two days ago [Jan. 4, 2014] by the Fatah Movement, the [Palestinian] Prisoners' Club and the [PA] Ministry of Prisoners' [Affairs] in the Tubas and Northern Jordan Valley District to mark the 49th anniversary of 'the Launch' (Intilaqa) of the revolution and the beginning of the [Fatah] movement's activities... [Erekat] said: 'Any self-respecting nation wages battles for its prisoner sons,' and added: 'Wait, Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Sa'adat and the [rest of the] prisoners; the release is near. We will not rest until we see you free among your people, so that you will take up your roles in building the independent State of Palestine on all of the homeland's territory.'"
[Al-Ayyam, Jan. 6, 2014]
Intilaqa - "the Launch" of Fatah. Refers to the day of Fatah's first terror attack against Israel in 1965 when it tried to blow up Israel's National Water Carrier.
Photo: [PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa] Karake during his visit with prisoner Ahmad Sa'adat's family. |
"[PA] Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Karake said that prisoner Ahmad Sa'adat, the Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP], is a symbol, a freedom fighter and a conscience for all humanity, who spent his life in the service of his people's freedom and independence, and also spent most of his life in prisons.
Karake noted that Ahmad Sa'adat represents all free men, honorable people and fighters and that he has been distinguished by his bravery, honesty and deep faith in the justice of his cause; [he] carried out acts of bravery and adopted fundamental and revolutionary positions during his path of struggle.
He [Karake] noted that we, the Palestinian people, are proud of this commander and teacher and consider him an educator for generations and an inspiration for all honorable people. [Karake added] that his resolve and confrontation with the enemies were admirable.
This was said by Karake during his visit to prisoner Sa'adat's family in Ramallah, accompanied by a Ministry delegation, where he met with his [Sa'adat's] wife and children on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine's foundation."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 27, 2013]
Official PA TV News:
Mahmoud Abbas, at the opening of PLO Executive Committee meeting:
"We will continue the fight for [the prisoners' issue] until all these heroes, the prisoners of freedom, are freed. In a few days there will be a rally for brother Marwan Barghouti, who is a brother, prisoner and commander. We must mark the day of his [arrest] and salute him in his prison 11 years after he was kidnapped. Likewise, we cannot forget brother Ahmad Sa'adat and the rest of the leader prisoners, such as the MPs and the veteran [prisoners.]"
[Official PA TV, April 19, 2013]
Marwan Barghouti - serving five life sentences for orchestrating terror attacks against Israeli civilians. When arrested in 2002, he headed the Tanzim (Fatah terror faction). After he was convicted and imprisoned, he was re-elected member of the Palestinian Authority parliament.
Ahed Abu Gholmeh - serving a life sentence for planning the murder of Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam Ze'evi "Ghandi" in 2001.
Ahmad Sa'adat - serving a 30-year sentence for heading the PFLP terror organization. A song at a PFLP event also praised him for planning the assassination of Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam Ze'evi in 2001, but he has not been tried for this crime.
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terror organization (PFLP) - has planned and carried out numerous terror attacks against Israeli civilians since its founding in 1967 and throughout the Palestinian terror campaign between 2000- 2005 (the Intifada).
Karim Younes - an Israeli Arab serving a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and killing an Israeli soldier in 1980. Originally sentenced to life in prison, but Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence in 2012.
Maher Younes - an Israeli Arab serving a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and killing an Israeli soldier in 1980. Originally sentenced to life in prison, but Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence in 2012.
Lina Al-Jarbouni - An Israeli Arab woman serving a sentence of 17 years, convicted March 9, 2004 of maintaining contact with and helping Islamic Jihad terrorists, of conspiring to commit terrorist attacks and of aiding an enemy during war.
Fuad Al-Shubaki - a senior PA official who is serving a 20-year prison term. He was behind the attempt to smuggle 50 tons of illegal weapons into the Palestinian Authority in 2002 aboard the Karin-A weapons' ship.
Omar Al-Akkawi - serving a 25-year prison term. He was the commander of the Karin-A weapons' ship that attempted to smuggle 50 tons of illegal weapons into the Palestinian Authority in 2002.
Muhammad Al-Milh - was arrested in 2001 and is serving a life sentence and another 30 years. PMW has been unable to verify the specific nature of his crimes.
Abbas Al-Sayid- serving 35 life sentences for planning two suicide bombings, one at a Passover dinner at the Park Hotel in Netanya (30 killed, March 27, 2002) and another outside a shopping Mall in Netanya (5 killed, May 18, 2001).
Ibrahim Hamed - Hamas military leader serving 54 life sentences for orchestrating suicide attacks that killed a total of 46 Israelis. These attacks included the bombings at the Hebrew University cafeteria (9 killed, July 31, 2002), Moment Cafe (12 killed, March 9, 2002), Hillel Cafe (7 killed, Sept. 9, 2003), Zion Square in the center of Jerusalem (11 killed, Dec. 1, 2001), and others.