PA university awards jailed murderer with honorary certificate
PA honors 2 murderers
PA university awards jailed murderer
with "honorary certificate in military science
as a sign of appreciation for his role and sacrifice"
Mother to murderer son: "You did nothing wrong...
On the contrary, you bring us pride"
Young relatives of murderer dream of meeting him
PA TV: He is a role model for children
by Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Karim and Maher Younes are Israeli Arab terrorists serving a 40-year sentence for having kidnapped and murdered Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980. They are among the Palestinian Authority's so-called "veteran" prisoners, and as such are glorified tremendously by the PA. The fact that they have both "endured" 36 years in prison was celebrated by the PA this month.
"Under the auspices" of PA Chairman Abbas, the Tulkarem district held a "rally of solidarity" in Maher Younes' honor with the participation of Fatah Deputy Chairman and Abbas' representative Mahmoud Al-Aloul, Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq Tirawi, Tulkarem District Governor Issam Abu Bakr, Director of PLO Commission of Prisoners' Affairs Qadri Abu Bakr, and PA-funded Prisoners' Club Chairman Qadura Fares.
At the event, Abbas' deputy Al-Aloul "conveyed the blessings of President [Abbas] and the leadership to prisoner Maher Younes, his family, and all of our heroic prisoners." [Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 20, 2019]
It was also announced at the event that the PA's Al-Istiqlal University in Jericho - the Palestinian Academy for Security Sciences - is venerating murderer Maher Younes and awarding him with an honorary certificate:
"The board of governors of Al-Istiqlal University has decided to present prisoner Maher Younes with an honorary certificate in military science as a sign of appreciation for his role and sacrifice."
Commemorating the anniversary of Karim Younes' arrest, official PA TV honored him in a filler that it broadcast several times. It included this poster of him, referring to him and other terrorist prisoners as "brave":
Text on left: "Freedom for our brave prisoners"
Text at top: "Imprisoned since Jan. 6, 1983"
Text at bottom: "Karim Younes"
[Official PA TV, Jan. 7, 8 (3 times), 9 (4 times), 10, 12 (twice), and 13, 2019]
Moreover, official PA TV hosted Karim Yones' mother who spoke directly to her murderer son, telling him he "did nothing wrong" and that he and the other terrorist prisoners make Palestinians "proud":
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Terrorist murderer Karim Younes' mother: "He [Karim Younes] is the one that strengthens my endurance: 'Mom, I didn't do [anything wrong] - I didn't steal. I didn't harass a woman. I did nothing for you to be ashamed of. On the contrary, mom.' He always encourages me...
I told him: 'Don't worry... You did nothing wrong.' ... [To all his fellow prisoners I say:] 'Don't despair and don't worry... You did nothing wrong that harms your families or [causes] them to be ashamed of your actions. On the contrary, you bring us pride.'"
Official PA TV reporter: "By becoming a symbol of adherence to the [Palestinian] cause and the land, he has turned into a source of pride for his town 'Ara within the Green Line (i.e., Israel,) and to all of Palestine."
[Official PA TV News, Jan. 6, 2019]
Official PA TV declared that murderer Karim Younes is “the prisoners' pride and the symbol of resolve and undefeated willpower,” and also interviewed other of his relatives. Karim Younes’ nephew - who is named after him - stated that his “life’s dream” is to meet his uncle in real life:
Terrorist murderer Karim Younes' nephew: “My name is Karim Younes, after my uncle Karim. One of my life's dreams is that I’ll be able to see my uncle Karim...”
[Official PA TV, Good Morning Jerusalem, Jan. 11, 2019]
The murderer’s brother summarized that the children, including his daughter in first grade, “connect everything to her uncle Karim and to prisoners.” This is yet another expression of the fact that terrorist prisoners have become cult in the PA:
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Terrorist Karim Younes’ brother Nadim Younes: “The children don't forget... My young daughter who is in first grade, said to her mother: 'When will I be in fifth grade?' Her mother said: 'Why fifth grade and not sixth grade or high school?' Her answer was: 'Because you told us that in fifth grade my uncle Karim will come out [of prison].' She connects everything to her uncle Karim, to prisoners, and to events that are connected to the cause of the Palestinians...”
Upon hearing the children’s admiration for murderer Younes, PA TV’s reporter concluded that he has “sown pride in his family members” that “beams love and appreciation for him,” and that he is their “role model”:
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Official PA TV reporter: "The pride that Karim has sown in his family members and all Palestinians has taken root in the children of his family and beams love and appreciation for him and his personality. Meeting with him has become their dream, wish, and hope.”
"How can Karim Younes not be a role model and a dream for these children, and how can he not be the greatest headline of the day?”
As terrorist prisoners, Karim and Maher Younes are on the PA's payroll as part of their "Pay for Slay" program that rewards terrorists and murderers with generous salaries. Palestinian Media Watch has calculated that the cousins' combined PA salary since they were arrested in 1983 through and including December 2018 was at least 3,062,400 Israeli shekels - the equivalent of $883,196. Both are currently getting 12,000 shekels/month plus a 500 shekel Israeli resident supplement.
These recent events illustrate the PA's continued glorification of these two murderers. PMW has documented that PA and Fatah Chairman Abbas appointed Karim Younes to Fatah's Central Committee, and that the PA named a square after him in Jenin and one after his cousin Maher Younes in Tulkarem. Two months ago, Abbas hosted Karim Younes' mother and brother as his guests.
The following are longer excerpts of the statements quoted above:
Terrorist murderer Karim Younes' mother: "He [Karim Younes] is the one that strengthens my endurance: 'Mom, I didn't do [anything wrong] - I didn't steal. I didn't harass a woman. I did nothing for you to be ashamed of. On the contrary, mom.' He always encourages me... I told him: 'Don't worry... You did nothing wrong.' ... [To all his fellow prisoners I say:] 'Don't despair and don't worry... You did nothing wrong that harms your families or [causes] them to be ashamed of your actions. On the contrary, you bring us pride.'"
Official PA TV reporter: "By becoming a symbol of adherence to the [Palestinian] cause and the land, he has turned into a source of pride for his town 'Ara within the Green Line (i.e., Israel,) and to all of Palestine."
Terrorist Karim Younes' brother Nadim Younes: "The prisoners and their determination are the torch. Hold on and be resolute, we are behind you and before you in all arenas of the struggle, and will not desert you. Of course, it is known that no one need advise them. They are a symbol of determination and resolve."
[Official PA TV News, Jan. 6, 2019]
Karim Younes - Israeli Arab serving a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and murdering Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980 together with his cousin Maher Younes. Younes was originally sentenced to life in prison, but Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence in 2012. In May 2017 Younes was appointed by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to the Fatah Central Committee.
Green Line - 1949-1967 ceasefire line between Israel and the neighboring Arab countries (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria) following Israel's War of Independence (1948-1949). Land within the Green Line is all part of the State of Israel since 1949. Land outside the Green Line includes East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights.
Headline: "Under the auspices of the [PA] president and with wide official and popular presence - Tulkarem honors prisoner Maher Younes on the completion of 37 (sic., 36) years of his imprisonment"
"In cooperation with the family of prisoner Maher Younes (i.e., terrorist, murdered 1 together with an accomplice) and under the auspices of [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas, the Tulkarem district yesterday [Jan. 19, 2019] held a rally of solidarity with prisoner Younes on the completion of 37 (sic., 36) years of his imprisonment in the occupation's prison.
The event was held at the Prisoner Maher Younes Plaza in Tulkarem, with the participation of Fatah Movement Deputy Chairman and President [Abbas'] representative Mahmoud Al-Aloul; Fatah Movement Central Committee member [and Fatah Commissioner of Popular Organizations] Tawfiq Tirawi; prisoner Younes' mother and his family from the Interior (i.e., Palestinian term for Israel); Tulkarem District Governor Issam Abu Bakr; Director of [PLO] Commission of Prisoners' Affairs Qadri Abu Bakr; and [PA-funded] Prisoners' Club Chairman Qadura Fares...
Al-Aloul conveyed the blessings of President [Abbas] and the leadership to prisoner Maher Younes, his family, and all of our heroic prisoners in the occupation's prison...
Al-Aloul emphasized that the prisoners' cause is at the top of the leadership's priorities...
He noted that Tawfiq Tirawi informed him that the board of governors of Al-Istiqlal University (i.e., the PA Security Forces university in Jericho) has decided to present prisoner Maher Younes with an honorary certificate in military science as a sign of appreciation for his role and sacrifice.
Al-Aloul added: 'The prisoners' sacrifice is one of the greatest kinds of sacrifice, because they have sacrificed their freedom for the freedom of their people and their homeland. Therefore they are in the hearts of the members of our people, who recompense loyalty with loyalty through solidarity rallies like these in Tulkarem and the rest of the homeland's districts.'"
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 20, 2019]
Maher Younes - Israeli Arab serving a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and murdering Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980 together with his cousin Karim Younes. Younes was originally sentenced to life in prison, but Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence in 2012.