Eager to marry the Virgins of Paradise
a 16-year-old Palestinian sought Martyrdom
Yet the PA blamed Israel for his "murder"
By Itamar Marcus
The official PA daily reported that a 16-year-old Palestinian was jealous of the large funerals for "Martyrs," saying that he wanted his own "wedding" like that. His defining a funeral as a wedding is a reference to the Islamic tradition that the PA teaches its people. They claim terrorists and others who die in confrontations with Israel are Shahids - Martyrs - who are rewarded in Paradise with 72 Dark-Eyed Virgins. Accordingly, Palestinian "Martyrs" don't have funerals - they have "weddings."
Apparently, 16-year-old Laith Haitham Abu Na'im was convinced by the PA teachings. According to the official PA daily he "was known for his strong envy of the large Martyrs' (Shahids') funerals," because he wanted his own similar "wedding." Last month, he achieved the death he sought in confrontation with Israel and, according to the PA daily, "a big wedding was held as he yearned for." The PA daily also reported that Abu Na'im "competed with his friends about who would get there first to throw rocks at the occupation's jeeps, and did not let anyone precede him." [Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 1, 2018]Palestinian Media Watch has documented the death wish of other Palestinian youths who have yearned to become "Martyrs," and marry the Virgins.
The fact that the PA reports that Abu Na'im went out to a place of confrontation seeking to be killed, does not stop the PA from accusing Israel of murdering Abu Na'im.
PA TV reported:
"He was shot and murdered at point-blank range by the hostile soldier, and this was as part of the systematic Israeli policy to murder Palestinian children whose only sin was love of the homeland."
[Official PA TV News, Jan. 31, 2018]
Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki likewise blamed Israel:
"I saw the scene of the murder... when a human being turns into a savage, and the one who is armed with all types of weapons attacks a young person of such an age and kills him - he loses his humanity."
[Official PA TV News, Jan. 31, 2018]
Zaki himself, right after blaming Israel for "murder," went on to say that it is the desire of Palestinian youths to become Martyrs that will help continue the Palestinian cause:
"The flow of the young people and [former PA Chairman Yasser] Arafat's slogan 'Millions of Martyrs are marching to Jerusalem' are the guarantee for the continuation, and the resolve of the leadership against all of these challenges."
[Official PA TV News, Jan. 31, 2018]
Laith Haitham Abu Na'im - 16-year-old Palestinian who according to the PA Ministry of Health was shot and killed on Jan. 30, 2018, during a confrontation with Israeli soldiers near Ramallah. The Israeli army said that Palestinians were throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers and that no live bullets were used by the army. It is investigating the claim regarding Abu Na'im's death.
The following are longer excerpts of the reports cited above:
Official PA TV News, on the funeral of Laith Abu Na'im who was killed during violent confrontations with the Israeli army, interview from the funeral with Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki
Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki: "I saw the scene of the murder, two meters away. Therefore, when a human being turns into a savage, and the one who is armed with all types of weapons attacks a young person of such an age and kills him - he loses his humanity. The flow of the young people and [former PA Chairman Yasser] Arafat's slogan 'Millions of Martyrs are marching to Jerusalem' are the guarantee for the continuation, and the resolve of the leadership against all of these challenges."
Official PA TV reporter: "Laith [Abu Na'im] reached his final resting place today, after he was shot and murdered at point-blank range by the hostile soldier, and this was as part of the systematic Israeli policy to murder Palestinian children whose only sin was love of the homeland."
[Official PA TV News, Jan. 31, 2018]
Headline: "Laith Abu Na'im - my wish is a 'large wedding'"
"He was known for his strong envy of the large Martyrs' (Shahids') funerals, and used to say: 'I want a wedding similar to these funerals.' Two days ago (Jan. 30, 2018) in the afternoon what Martyr Laith Haitham Abu Na'im (16) from the village of Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, wished for happened when an occupation soldier shot a bullet in his face and he died as a Martyr. Yesterday a big wedding was held as he yearned for. (i.e., Martyr's funeral is considered wedding to the 72 Virgins in Paradise in Islam.) ... He competed with his friends about who would get there first to throw rocks at the occupation's jeeps, and did not let anyone precede him."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 1, 2018]