While Israel mourns terror, the PA celebrates terror
While Israel mourns terror, the PA and Fatah celebrate terror
14 Palestinian terrorists who murdered over 160 people honored this month
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
While Israel mourns its terror victims and fallen soldiers on Israel's Memorial Day (Wednesday), the Palestinian Authority and Fatah, both headed by Mahmoud Abbas, continue to celebrate, honor, and present as role models those responsible for terror.
14 terrorists who murdered a total of at least 160 people were honored by the PA this month. Abbas personally honored 4 Palestinian terrorists. He cited "the first Martyr," "the first [male] prisoner" and "the first female fighter prisoner," all of whom he awarded with "decorations of military honor, in admiration of their militant pioneering role." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 17, 2015] He also honored arch-terrorist Abu Jihad, who the PA credits with orchestrating attacks in which 125 were murdered. Abbas was the patron of a rally held in Abu Jihad's honor. Abbas "expressed his pride" in Abu Jihad "for his significant national role." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 17, 2015]
The following are some examples of terrorists honored or presented as role models by the PA or Fatah this month (all sources appear below):
| Name of terrorist | Dalal Mughrabi |
| Crime description | Led 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 killing 37 civilians, 12 of them children, and wounding over 70. |
| No. killed | 37 |
| Means of honor | Presented as role model for university students on Fatah's official Facebook page. Fatah called "to renew the promise and the oath to the Martyr leaders." |
| Name of terrorist | Abu Jihad (Khalil Al-Wazir) |
| Crime description | Head of the PLO terror organization's military wing, planned numerous lethal terror attacks, including the bus hijacking that killed 37. |
| No. killed | 125 |
| Means of honor | - Two documentaries about him were broadcast on PA TV. - Fatah's Jerusalem branch held a table tennis tournament named after him. - He was presented as role model for university students on Fatah's official Facebook page. Fatah called "to renew the promise and the oath to the Martyr leaders." |
| Name of terrorist | Salah Khalaf (Abu Iyad) |
| Crime description | One of the founders of Fatah and head of the terror organization Black September. Attacks he planned include the murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics (1972) and the murder of two American diplomats in Sudan (1973). |
| No. killed | 13 |
| Means of honor | Presented as role model for university students on Fatah's official Facebook page. Fatah called "to renew the promise and the oath to the Martyr leaders." |
| Name of terrorist | Andalib Takatka |
| Crime description | Female suicide bomber from Fatah who blew herself up on Jaffa Road in Jerusalem in 2002, killing 6 and wounding more than 80. |
| No. killed | 6 |
| Means of honor | Presented as role model for university students on Fatah's official Facebook page. Fatah called "to renew the promise and the oath to the Martyr leaders." |
| Name of terrorist | Wafa Idris |
| Crime description | First Palestinian female suicide bomber (2002). As a volunteer for the Palestinian Red Crescent she was able to bypass Israeli security and enter Jerusalem in a Palestinian ambulance. |
| No. killed | 1 |
| Means of honor | Presented as role model for university students on Fatah's official Facebook page. Fatah called "to renew the promise and the oath to the Martyr leaders." |
| Name of terrorist | Raed Al-Karmi |
| Crime description | A senior Tanzim (Fatah terror faction) operative responsible for the murder of 9 Israelis in several attacks. |
| No. killed | 9 |
| Means of honor | Presented as role model for university students on Fatah's official Facebook page. Fatah called "to renew the promise and the oath to the Martyr leaders." |
| Name of terrorist | Marwan Zalum |
| Crime description | Commander of the Hebron branch of the Tanzim (Fatah terror faction). Responsible for several terror attacks, including sending the terrorist who shot and murdered infant Shalhevet Pass in her stroller in 2001 and provided bomb used in suicide attack in 2002. |
| No. killed | 9 |
| Means of honor | Presented as role model for university students on Fatah's official Facebook page. Fatah called "to renew the promise and the oath to the Martyr leaders." |
| Name of terrorist | Hussein Abayat |
| Crime description | Commander of Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in the West Bank. He was involved in shooting attacks. |
| No. killed | 1 |
| Means of honor | Presented as role model for university students on Fatah's official Facebook page. Fatah called "to renew the promise and the oath to the Martyr leaders." |
| Name of terrorist | Ramzi Khamis Barrash |
| Crime description | Participated in the shooting and murder of an Israeli. |
| No. killed | 1 |
| Means of honor | Governor of Rammallah Laila Ghannam visited his family. |
| Name of terrorist | Muhammad Khamis Barrash |
| Crime description | Participated in the shooting and murder of Israelis. |
| No. killed | 3 |
| Means of honor | Governor of Rammallah Laila Ghannam visited his family. |
| Name of terrorist | Diya Zakariya Shaker Al-Agha "Al-Faluji" |
| Crime description | Serving a life sentence for beating Israeli to death with a shovel (1992). |
| No. killed | 1 |
| Means of honor | - PLO Commission of Prisoners' Affairs director Issa Karake visited his home. - His mother appeared on PA TV. The host referred to Agha as "a fighter" and called his terror attack "the heroic operation." |
| Name of terrorist | Fatima Barnawi |
| Crime description | Placed a bomb in a movie theater in Jerusalem in 1967. |
| No. killed | 0 |
| Means of honor | Honored by PA Chairman Abbas. |
| Name of terrorist | Ahmad Musa Salameh |
| Crime description | Participated in first PLO terror attack against Israel in 1965. |
| No. killed | 0 |
| Means of honor | Honored by PA Chairman Abbas. |
| Name of terrorist | Mahmoud Hijazi |
| Crime description | Involved in an attempted bombing attack in 1965. |
| No. killed | 0 |
| Means of honor | Honored by PA Chairman Abbas. |
The following are excerpts of the items honoring the above terrorists:
Headline: "The President [Abbas] on the anniversary of the Martyrdom-death of Abu Jihad: 'He was a leader and a symbol of the Palestinian struggle'"
"President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his pride yesterday [April 16, 2015] in Martyr ['Abu Jihad'] Khalil Al-Wazir's significant national role in the outbreak of the Palestinian revolution.
In addition, the President praised his remarkable role in writing the modern history of the struggle as well as the efforts he invested, the sacrifices he made and his dedication in service of his people, in order to bring about the [establishment of] a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The President held a phone conversation with Intisar Al-Wazir, Martyr Abu Jihad's companion [and widow], in honor of the anniversary of his death yesterday and in appreciation of his revolutionary role in the history of our modern revolution." From WAFA, official PA news agency
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 17, 2015]
Headline: "The National Security [Forces] and Fatah marked the anniversary of the Martyrdom-death of Abu Jihad in Jenin"
"The masses of the Jenin district marked the anniversary of the Martyrdom-death of Martyr Khalil Al-Wazir 'Abu Jihad' with a mass rally held in the Palestinian National Security Forces' camp Horsh Al-Saada, under the patronage of his Excellency, President Mahmoud Abbas. Present at the rally were: Jenin District Governor Ibrahim Ramadan, Fatah Central Committee member and Commissioner of Foreign Branches Jamal Muhaisen... commanders and representatives of the Palestinian National Security Forces, members of the Legislative and Revolutionary Councils, members of the [Fatah] movement and several national and public figures. In a speech he gave in the President's name, Ramadan stressed the importance of achieving national unity, unifying the ranks and joining together around the Palestinian leadership in order to bring about the establishment of our independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. Muhaisen praised the members of the security establishment for sacrificing Martyrs, wounded and prisoners over the years, and brought up memories from the life of Martyr leader Khalil Al-Wazir 'Abu-Jihad.'"
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 17, 2015]
"For Palestinian Prisoners' Day, the President [Mahmoud Abbas] decided to honor the first prisoner of modern Palestinian revolution Mahmoud Bakr Hijazi, the first female fighter prisoner Fatima Barnawi and the first Martyr Ahmad Musa Salameh. The President gave them the decoration of military honor, in admiration of their militant pioneering role and for their sacrifice for their country and people."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 17, 2015]
Text and image published on Fatah’s Facebook page, “Fatah – The Main Page”
Posted text: "Mobilize, oh sons of Yasser [Arafat]
Mobilize, oh brothers of Abu Jihad, Abu Iyad, the two Kamals (Kamal Adwan and Kamal Nasser), [Hussein] Abayat, [Marwan] Zalum and [Raed] Al-Karmi
Posted text: "Mobilize, oh sons of Yasser [Arafat]
Mobilize, oh brothers of Abu Jihad, Abu Iyad, the two Kamals (Kamal Adwan and Kamal Nasser), [Hussein] Abayat, [Marwan] Zalum and [Raed] Al-Karmi
Mobilize, oh Sisters of Dalal [Mughrabi], Andalib [Takatka] and Wafa [Idris]
Mobilize, oh sons of the victorious (i.e., Fatah movement)...
We will meet tomorrow, Tuesday [April 21, 2015], in Hebron at the elections for the Polytechnic University student council
to renew the promise and the oath to the Martyr leaders."
Text on image: "The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' bloc - the number in the elections [is] -2"
[Facebook, "Fatah - The Main Page," April 20, 2015]
Headline: "[Fatah's] Jerusalem branch organized the sub-branches' table tennis tournament" "Fatah's Jerusalem branch held the first tennis table tournament for sub-branches under the name 'Martyr Abu Jihad Tournament' in Qalandiya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. Present at the tournament were the Jerusalem branch members, many of the movement's members and secretaries of branches, and Fatah's 'Shabiba' [youth] movement.
Jerusalem branch member and Commissioner of Mobilization and Organization Abd Abu Sbeih noted that the tournament is for all sub-branches in the Jerusalem district and is intended to strengthen the bond between the movement's branches, in addition to creating an atmosphere of love and brotherhood among the young people and spreading the spirit of unity among them. He added: 'The tournament was named after Martyr Abu Jihad because it takes place close to the anniversary of the Martyrdom-death of commander Khalil Al-Wazir.'"
[Al-Ayyam, April 13, 2015]
"District Governor of Ramallah and El-Bireh Dr. Laila Ghannam... honored the family of prisoner Muhammad Abu Rabia, who was sentenced to 13 life sentences and 50 years, and stressed that our brave male prisoners and glorious female prisoners symbolize the Palestinian honor and resolve. In addition, she stressed that their families are the [top] priority for every Palestinian institution, and expressed her wish that they [the prisoners] would be released and enjoy the freedom amongst their families and loved ones. Ghannam clarified that the doors of the traitors and hangmen's cells will not be locked forever, that the prisoners' victory is certain and that they will live to see the light, far from the barbed wires and dark cells. She also conveyed her pride to all our brave male prisoners and glorious female prisoners."
[PANET, Israeli Arab website, April 6, 2015]
Official PA TV program The Woman's Struggle hosted the mother of prisoner Diya Al-Agha:
PA TV host: "We would like to focus on prisoner Diya [Al-Agha]. What was the reason for his imprisonment? He has served 23 years in prison. The heroic operation (i.e., terror attack) he carried out was certainly widely known. He is a fighter and a veteran prisoner, but tell us about him [yourself] as well."
[Official PA TV, April 18, 2015]
Headline: "Ghannam honored released prisoner Masbah and visited prisoners' families in Al-Amari"
"District Governor of Ramallah and El-Bireh Dr. Laila Ghannam, visited families of prisoners in the Al-Amari refugee camp to check on their situation and to honor them for their and their sons' resolve facing of the occupation's arrogance and the suffering of prison.
In addition, she said that the prisoners' resolve is a symbol of honor for every Palestinian and a mark of shame on the forehead of the world purporting to be democratic and to honor human rights...
Ghannam said that all of our people is each Palestinian prisoner's family, and that undoubtedly the will of the nations will defeat the occupation and its tyranny. Likewise, she expressed her wish to visit all the [prisoners'] families after they [the prisoners] will have defeated the prison guards, and can enjoy freedom among their families and loved ones...
During her visit to the family of prisoners Muhammad Khamis Barrash, who was sentenced to three life sentences and 30 years, and Ramzi Khamis Barrash, sentenced to one life sentence, the District Governor said that a world that remains silent while a prisoner who lost his hearing and eye-sight and suffered burns to his legs stays in prison, is a world that collaborates with the occupation and its crimes."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 3, 2015]
Headline: "Karake phoned mothers of prisoners in the Gaza Strip"
"A delegation of the Commission of Prisoners and Released Prisoners' Affairs in the southern districts (i.e., the Gaza Strip) visited the home of the most veteran of the prisoners in the Gaza Strip, prisoner Diya Zakariya Shaker Al-Agha, held for 23 years in the occupation's prisons and serving a 99 years sentence...
During the meeting, [PLO] Commission of Prisoners and Released Prisoners' Affairs director and PA Parliament Member Issa Karake phoned mother of prisoners Diya and Muhammad Al-Agha, and heard her speak of the suffering of veteran prisoners' mothers, and promised her that he would not rest until all the prisoners are released from the prisons.
The staff, which included Director of Prisoners' and Released [Prisoners'] Affairs and head of the Gaza office Administrative council Bassem Al-Majdalawi, Director of Information and Public Relations Atef Mar'i, Director of the Commission's Statistics Department and Head of the Internal Audit Department Abd Al-Nasser Farwaneh, and Head of the International Law department in the Commission Raafat Hamdouna, awarded the mother of the prisoners the plaque of loyalty."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 3, 2015]