Philadelphia Councilwoman honors PA terror supporter
Philadelphia Councilwoman honors
PA terror supporter with the Liberty Bell Award
and "Citation of Honor"
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
A long-term supporter of Palestinian terror was awarded a replica of the "Liberty Bell" and a "Citation of Honor" by Philadelphia Councilwoman Maria Sanchez. The honors were given to the Palestinian District Governor of Ramallah, Laila Ghannam, by the American official "in recognition of the impact and her extraordinary actions for her nation and her cause," reported the official PA daily [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 31, 2015, see below]. Councilwoman Sanchez posted photos on Facebook of herself with Ghannam receiving the award, and tweetedthe following statement: "I was honored to welcome the first woman Governor of the city of Ramallah, #Palestine, to Philadelphia Dr. Leila Ghannam. Women making moves." [Jan. 30, 2015]
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Philadelphia Councilwoman Maria Sanchez with Laila Ghannam, holding up the miniature Liberty Bell [Philadelphia Councilwoman Maria Sanchez's Facebook page, Jan. 30, 2015] |
Laila Ghannam's "actions for her nation" include ongoing promotion of terror by glorifying some of the most horrific Palestinian terrorist murderers, presenting them as heroes and role models, and promising to follow in their path, as documented by Palestinian Media Watch. Ghannam categorizes murderers of civilians, among others, as Shahids (Martyrs), the highest status in Islam, indicating she believes murder of Israeli civilians is an act sanctioned by Islam, promoted by Allah, and an act to be admired by Palestinians.
Ghannam honored Hamas bomb-builder for suicide terrorists Abdallah Barghouti, who is serving 67 life sentences for complicity in the murder of 67 civilians, by visiting his home and family.
At one official PA event, Ghannam promised to follow the path of arch-terrorists who murdered hundreds of civilians. The list included the infamous founder of Hamas, Ahmed Yassin, responsible for the deaths of hundreds in suicide bombings on busses and in cafes in Israel:
Laila Ghannam: "We promise and swear to these mighty ones: We are still [following] your path... The President and icon, Martyr Yasser Arafat, Dr. George Habash (founder PFLP), comrade Abu Ali Mustafa (head of PFLP), Sheikh Ahmed Yassin (Hamas founder), Fathi Shaqaqi (Islamic Jihad founder), Samir Ghosheh (Sec.-Gen. of PSF), Abu Jihad (a founder of Fatah) and all the great leaders."
[Official PA TV Live, Jan. 7, 2014]
The list below documents an additional 25 of the Palestinian terrorists whom Laila Ghannam, the awardee of Philadelphia's Liberty Bell Award, has honored in speeches, by laying wreaths on their graves and/or with visits to their families. These terrorists listed below between them have killed hundreds ofIsraelis in suicide bombings, shooting attacks and stabbings:
Abdallah Barghouti, terrorist murderer, serving 67 life sentences. He prepared explosives for suicide bombings that killed 67 civilians:
Sbarro restaurant (15 killed, 2001), Sheffield Club (15 killed, 2002), Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall (11 killed, 2001), Moment Caf? (11 killed, 2002), Hebrew University (9 killed, 2002), bus bombing (6 killed, 2002).
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Barghouti:
"Laila Ghannam paid a solidarity visit to the family [of Barghouti]... Ghannam saluted all the prisoners in the prisons and prisoner Abdallah Barghouti's family and children."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 28, 2013]
Ayyat Al-Akhras, killed 2 Israelis in a suicide bombing near a Jerusalem supermarket in 2002.
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Al-Akhras:
At a ceremony with other PA officials in February 2014, Ghannam called Al-Akhras and other terrorists "brave heroes" and "Shahids (Martyrs) who sacrificed their pure blood so we will live in freedom..." and stated: "Allah willing, we will remain committed to their promise and make tombs that will befit their stature." [Official PA TV Live, Feb. 3, 2014]
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"[PA District Governor of Ramallah and El-Bireh Laila] Ghannam, during her visit with the mother of released prisoner [Issa] Abd Rabbo." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 22, 2014] |
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Abd Rabbo:
Ghannam spoke at an event honoring the terrorist's mother on the occasion of Abd Rabbo's release from prison (in exchange deal, January 2014). Ghannam said: "We are all looking forward to Issa's wedding with indescribable joy, [a wedding] that will be a new start for a fighter who left his unforgettable mark on the annals of the Palestinian national struggle." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 22, 2014]
Ghannam also visited the terrorist's family in April 2013.
Savoy Hotel terrorists, 8 Palestinian terrorists took civilians hostage in the Savoy Hotel in Tel Aviv in 1975, eventually murdering 8 civilians and 3 soldiers.
Ghannam's honoring of the terrorists:
Ghannam honors the Savoy Hotel terrorists regularly by laying wreaths on their graves. She refers to them as "the Martyrs of the Savoy operation."
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Laila Ghannam and other PA officials place a wreath on the graves of the Savoy Hotel terrorists. [Facebook, "Friends of Dr. Laila Ghannam," Oct. 4, 2014] | Ghannam places a wreath on the graves of the Savoy Hotel terrorists. [Facebook, "Friends of Dr. Laila Ghannam," Oct. 20, 2013]
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Abu Ali Mustafa, responsible for killing dozens of people in his capacity as Secretary-General for the terror organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Mustafa:
Ghannam laid a wreath on his grave on the anniversary of the founding of the PFLP. At the event, she called him a "Shahid" (Martyr), citing his "pioneering role," stating that "Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa... remains [with us] through his philosophy, history and admirable struggle." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 12, 2013]
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"Dr. Laila Ghannam honors prisoner Thaer Hammad, hero of the Oyoun Al-Haramiya operation." |
Thaer Hammad, shot and killed 3 civilians and 7 soldiers, in 2002.
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Hammad:
Ghannam visited the terrorist's family in 2013 and stated that he is "an example for any young person who has love for Palestine flowing in his veins." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, June 5, 2013]
Later, Ghannam called him "heroic" and spoke about a letter that he wrote to her. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 19, 2014]
Abu Jihad (Khalil Al-Wazir), responsible for the murders of 125 people in his capacity as head of the PLO terror organization's military wing. In one attack he planned, 37 civilians, 12 of them children, were killed in a bus hijacking in 1978.
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Laila Ghannam at a rally marking the death of arch-terrorist Abu Jihad. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 19, 2014] |
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Abu Jihad:
- Ghannam spoke at a rally marking the
anniversary of Abu Jihad's death. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 19, 2014]
- Ghannam was the patron of a football tournament in which one of the teams was
named after Abu Jihad. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 28, 2014]
Abu Iyad (Salah Khalaf), one of the planners of the attack in which 11 Israeli athletes were murdered at the 1972 Munich Olympics and the murder of two American diplomats in Sudan (1973).
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Abu Iyad:
Ghannam was the patron of a football tournament that had a team named after Abu Iyad. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 28, 2014]
Ramadan Yaqub, killed one person in a stabbing attack in 1993.
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Yaqub:
Ghannam delivered a speech in PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' name at a PA ceremony honoring Yaqub and other terrorists who were released from prison. [Official PA TV, Jan. 8, 2014]
Jamal Abu Muhsin, killed one person in a stabbing attack in 1991.
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Abu Muhsin:
Ghannam visited him and other terrorists on the occasion of their release from prison. During the visit, she called him "one of the giants of resolve." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 4, 2014]
Mukhlis Sawafta, killed one person in a stabbing attack in 1990.
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Sawafta:
Ghannam visited him and other terrorists on the occasion of their release from prison. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 4, 2014]
Sa'id Tamimi, kidnapped and murdered one person in 1993.
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Tamimi:
Ghannam visited him and other terrorists on the occasion of their release from prison. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 1, 2014]
Abd Al-Rahman Yusuf Mahmoud Al-Haj, killed one person in a stabbing attack in 1992.
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Al-Haj:
Ghannam visited the terrorist after he was released from prison. [Official PA TV, Dec. 12, 2013]
Asrar Samrin, killed one person in 1991.
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Samrin:
Ghannam spoke at an event celebrating his and other terrorists' release from prison. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 4, 2013]
Ziyad Mahmoud Ghneimat and Mustafa Ghneimat, killed one in a stabbing attack in 1985.
Ghannam's honoring of the terrorists:
At an event celebrating the terrorists' release from prison, Ghannam congratulated the terrorists on their release. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 4, 2013]
Muhammad Al-Tous, gave the orders to murder 3 people and was involved in the murders of an additional 2 people.
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Al-Tous:
At an event celebrating his and other terrorists' release from prison, Ghannam called him "one of the giants of defiance." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 4, 2013]
Ramzi Khamis Barrash, killed one person in a stabbing attack in 2002.
Ghannam's honoring of terrorist Barrash:
Ghannam visited his family. [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 11, 2013]
The following is the article in the official PA daily reporting on Ghannam receiving the Liberty Bell Award in Philadelphia:
Headline: "Ghannam: We will ring the bells of our nation's liberty from the heart of Jerusalem, and will not despair."
"District Governor of Ramallah and El-Bireh Laila Ghannam emphasized that our nation would ring the bells of its liberty and the achievement of its rights from the heart of Jerusalem, the capital of its independent and fully sovereign state...
[Ghannam] made these statements while receiving the Liberty Bell from [Philadelphia] City Council member Maria Sanchez in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, [USA] yesterday [Jan. 30, 2015]. This bell, which symbolizes Philadelphia's independence day, means a lot to its citizens. In addition, Ghannam received a Citation of Honor, which has never been awarded to any Arab leader or citizen before, in recognition of her impact and her extraordinary actions for her nation and her cause, and her influence within her society and in the world... [Ghannam] made it clear that the land of Palestine was the cradle of love and peace, noting that Jesus was Palestinian, and that tolerance is one of the Palestinians' most prominent principles."
Ghannam gave the parliamentary representative [City Councilwoman Maria Sanchez] a memento from the Palestinian heritage, and noted that this is our heritage, identity and the legacy of our ancestors. She also noted that the occupation (i.e., PA euphemism for Israel) was trying to steal it by using it in Israeli fashion shows and for the uniforms of the Israeli airline attendants. Ghannam clarified that stealing is their [the Israelis'] conduct, as they have stolen the land, and are now trying to rob all that is Palestinian, without anything to stop their savagery, criminality and unrestrained terrorism."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 31, 2015]