PA tourney named after Abu Jihad

Palestinian institutions and events still named after terrorists, study shows.

By ZOE FOX
Danny Ayalon 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski/The Jerusalem Post)
Danny Ayalon 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski/The Jerusalem Post)
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad sponsored a youth fencing tournament in Jericho on Friday named after terrorist leader Abu Jihad.
Abu Jihad, former second-in-command to Yasser Arafat, planned Fatah’s terror activities beginning in the mid-1960s. He masterminded the 1978 Coastal Road Massacre, the worst terror attack in Israel’s history, which left 38 Israeli civilians dead – 13 of them children – and 71 wounded.
Glorification of terrorists is not a new phenomenon in Palestinian society, according to a new study by Palestinian Media Watch (PMW).
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and PMW Director Itamar Marcus will present the results of the study – on Palestinian incitement – during a joint press conference Monday at the Foreign Ministry. The study reveals new evidence of glorification of Arab terrorists.
“The new campaign is focusing on documenting how the Palestinian Authority turns terrorists into heroes and role models for children. It’s not as much about the motivation, but more on the aftermath,” Marcus told The Jerusalem Post.
The 25-page report includes about 100 examples of dormitories, schools, roads, sports arenas and events like the fencing tournament named after about 50 different terrorists. Marcus described the report as a cumulative compilation of research that’s been going on for 14 years.
“It paints a picture of a society. The message starts right from the top and goes to the children. The message is that someone like Abu Jihad, who supervised the worst terror attack in Israel’s history, is considered a hero and is worthy of honor. The message is that killing civilians is honorable, and this is the evidence,” said Marcus.
Marcus noted that several members of the US government, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have made a number of strong statements against Palestinian terror glorification. Marcus quoted Clinton’s remarks about Palestinian textbooks at a 2007 press conference.
“These textbooks don’t give Palestinian children an education, they give them an indoctrination,” Clinton said.
Marcus called on Clinton to acknowledge that this was not a unique event but part of a purposeful policy. All of Clinton’s 2007 complaints are still true today, or worse, he said.
The PMW does not believe that the peace process can resume if the PA continues to venerate terrorist activities.
“It’s very clear cut. You cannot have a peace process if this goes on,” Marcus stated.
Ayalon participated Sunday morning in a discussion held by theKnesset’s Economic Affairs Committee on the steps to be taken inresponse to the recent PA boycott of Israeli products originating inJudea and Samaria.
“We are hopefully going to restart negotiations with the Palestinianssoon. These talks do not stand a chance unless this indoctrinationtoward hatred, boycott of Israeli goods and systematic delegitimizationprogram stops. The Palestinian future cannot and will not be built on afoundation of hatred or institutionalization of incitement,” saidAyalon.
Marcus will hold another press conference on the new report inWashington Thursday with Brad Sherman, Chairman of the US House ofRepresentatives Subcommittee for International Terrorism andNonproliferation.