Abbas’ Fatah: “Martyrdom-death is a destiny ‎we assume willingly and serenely”‎

Abbas' Fatah: "Martyrdom-death is a destiny

we assume willingly and serenely"

Fatah's youth movement

"renewed its commitment to the [Martyrs'] path"

by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik

Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement and its youth division Shabiba both recently released statements honoring "Martyrs" (Shahids), praising them for "watering the land of Palestine with their pure blood." Fatah declared that "Martyrdom-death for Palestine is a destiny":

"We believe that Martyrdom-death (Istish'had) for Palestine is a destiny we assume willingly and serenely, in order [to attain] a free and dignified life for our people in the paradise of the eternal homeland."

[WAFA (the official Palestinian news agency), Jan. 7, 2015]

Some of those who Fatah has exalted as "Martyrs" in recent months and whom the movement honored in its statement with its "highest praise" and "appreciation" are the following terrorists, as documented by Palestinian Media Watch:

The synagogue murderers Ghassan and Uday Abu Jamal murdered 4 worshippers and a policeman in a Jerusalem synagogue (Nov. 18, 2014).

Fatah posted a picture of the graves of the two terrorists on its official Facebook page, with the text: "This is the place of eternal rest of Martyrs Ghassan and Uday Abu Jamal."  

Abd Al-Rahman Al-Shaloudi murdered a three-month-old baby and a young woman, when he intentionally drove his car into people waiting for a train.

Fatah posted an obituary for the murderer on its official Facebook page, calling him "heroic Martyr."

Dalal Mughrabi led the most lethal terror attack in Israel's history, known as the Coastal Road massacre, in 1978, when she and other Fatah terrorists hijacked a bus on Israel's Coastal Highway, killing 37 civilians, 12 of them children, and wounding over 70. Fatah organized a tournament named after her, and Fatah-run Awdah TV broadcast at length from a party commemorating the terrorist, referring to her as "Martyr" and stating that "we renew the promise to her and its fulfillment... [she] will remain a path for the next generations to follow."   

Ali Hassan Salameh was commander of operations of the Black September terror group and planned many terror attacks, including the attack on the Israeli team at the Munich Olympics in 1972, in which 11 Israeli athletes were murdered. Fatah honored him as "Martyr" and for his "greatness of men and the pride of heroes."  

Abd Al-Salam Hassouna shot and killed 6 and wounded dozens at a bat-mitzvah celebration in Hadera (Jan. 17, 2002). Sa'id Ramadan shot and killed 2 on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem and wounded dozens (Jan. 22, 2002). Fatah honored these killers as "heroic." Both were from Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Fatah's military wing.

In its statement on the occasion of Palestinian "Martyrs' Day" last month, Fatah expressed its "loyalty" to all "Martyrs of Palestine" as follows:

"Loyalty to the Martyrs of Palestine is the most exalted expression of its commitment to the path and to the oath to liberate the land and to persist on the path of truth, which the Martyrs paved with their pure blood."

[WAFA (the official Palestinian news agency), Jan. 7, 2015]

"Sacrifice is merely one part of the doctrine of national struggle, the aim of which is to redeem our people and its future generations," the statement continued. It explained that "Martyrdom-death is our way to ensure the eternity of our people on its land, while it protects its Arab identity and holy places."

Fatah also "swore to remain faithful to their [the Martyrs'] sacrifice until all Palestinians, Arabs and free men around the world witness the establishment of a Palestinian state" and until "one of their small boys or girls raises the Palestinian flag over the walls of Jerusalem, the capital of our free and independent state."

Similarly, Fatah's youth movement Shabibasent "greetings of respect and admiration" to the Martyrs and "renewed its commitment to the [Martyrs'] path until independence is achieved" and "until the establishment of the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital." [Ma'an (independent Palestinian news agency) Jan. 7, 2015]

The following are the reports on the statements honoring "Martyrdom-death for Palestine" released by Fatah and Fatah's youth movement:

Headline: "Our belief in Martyrdom-death (Istish'had) for Palestine is equal to our belief in the eternal life of our people in its land"

"Fatah said that 'loyalty to the Martyrs (Shahids) of Palestine is the most exalted expression of its commitment to the path and to the oath to liberate the land and to persist on the path of truth, which the Martyrs paved with their pure blood.'

In its statement, published by the [Fatah] Culture and Information Commission today, Wednesday [Jan. 7, 2015], on the occasion of PalestinianMartyrs' Day, the movement added: 'We believe that Martyrdom-death (Istish'had) for Palestine is a destiny we assume willingly and serenely, in order [to attain] a free and dignified life for our people in the paradise of the eternal homeland. In addition, we believe that life is a great opportunity to invest everything in our power for the liberation of the homeland.'

Fatah saluted the 'souls of the Martyrs of the Palestinian people, its national power and the movement's Martyrs, [who died] on the path of struggle for Palestine. From Martyr Ahmad Musa, [through] Martyr and Supreme Commander PresidentYasser Arafat, the movement's great leaders, the first self-sacrificing fighters (Fedayeen) and the generations that breathed out their souls for this path, to the last name on the list of national honor - all in order to reach the moment when the Palestinian flag will be raised over the skies of free and independent Jerusalem.'

The statement said: 'Our goals are the freedom and independence of the Palestinian people. Sacrifice is merely one part of the doctrine of national struggle, the aim of which is to redeem our people and its future generations. Martyrdom-death is our way to ensure the eternity of our people on its land, while it protects its Arab identity and holy places.'

On this occasion, the movement expressed its highest praise, appreciation and recognition to the souls of the Palestinian, Arab and foreign Martyrs who died as Martyrs for Palestine, and to their relatives and children. Furthermore, it swore to remain faithful to their sacrifice until all Palestinians, Arabs and free men around the world witness the establishment of a Palestinian state, and until one of their small boys or girls raises the Palestinian flag over the walls of Jerusalem, the capital of our free and independent state."

[WAFA (the official Palestinian news agency), Jan. 7, 2015]

"Fatah's Shabiba [youth] movement in the West Bank sent greetings of respect and admiration this morning [Jan. 7, 2015] to the Martyrs (Shahids) on Palestinian Martyrs' Day, and renewed its commitment to the [Martyrs'] path until independence is achieved, until the establishment of the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, the return of the refugees and the realization of the dream for which they [the Martyrs] sacrificed their lives so that we may live in dignity and pride.

In a statement made on the occasion of this day, Fatah's Shabiba said: 'We remember our Palestinian nation's Martyrs, who ascended [to Heaven] at various stages of our nation's struggle for freedom, led by the eternal Commander Martyr Yasser Arafat, the first Martyr of the modern Palestinian revolution, Ahmad Musa Salameh, and our nation's Martyrs from the various factions and the National and Islamic Forces, as well as the Martyrs of our Arab nation - the heroes of the Jordanian, Egyptian and Iraqi armies, who watered the land of Palestine with their pure blood in order to defend its Arab nature and freedom, and whose graves still bear witness to their struggle.'

In its statement, Fatah's Shabiba mentioned the Martyrs of our revolution, who acted as men during the years of the long national struggle everywhere in the homeland and outside it, in the prisons and on the borders, and the 'numbered Martyrs' (i.e., those buried in the so-called "numbered cemeteries" - Israeli cemeteries for terrorists and enemy soldiers), whose bodies are still held by the occupation."

[Ma'an (independent Palestinian news agency) Jan. 7, 2015]