PMW report leads to PA minister's defense of terrorists as "freedom fighters"
PMW report leads to PA minister's defense of imprisoned terrorists:
Our prisoners are "freedom fighters"
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Our prisoners are "freedom fighters"
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
Palestinian Media Watch recently reported that the PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs visited and gave an honorary award to a Palestinian mother because she has four sons in Israeli prisons who are serving a total of 18 life sentences for murdering Israeli civilians and involvement in terror attacks.
In response, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, condemned the Palestinian Authority: "While negotiations are restarting in Washington, ministers in Abbas' government are continuing with their incitement and encouraging acts of terrorism," Ayalon said. "Abbas needs to immediately condemn his minister's words and actions. These types of visits encourage terrorism, as we saw recently with the cold-blooded murder of four Israelis. The Palestinians need to make a decision, they cannot talk peace and at the same time encourage terrorism." [Jerusalem Post, Sept. 2, 2010]
The PA minister last week again visited homes of terrorists serving life sentences, and honored their families with a "Freedom Award." He took the opportunity to reject Ayalon's criticism:
"[PA Minister Issa Karake said:] 'Our prisoners are freedom fighters... the PA will not allow Israel to treat our prisoners as criminals...' Karake's statement came in response to the words of the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, who regarded Karake's visits to the prisoners' families as incitement to violence and terror against Israel, and demanded an apology from Abbas."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Sept. 6, 2010]
The following is the article in the PA daily about the PA minister honoring prisoners serving life terms as "freedom fighters."
"Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, Issa Karake, said in a meeting with the families of prisoners Jum'a Adam and Ahmad Al-Takrouri [both serving life terms] in Jericho that [official PA] visits to prisoners' families will continue in all the districts, as a national, human and political obligation, and as an ongoing expression of the demand for their release. He added that our prisoners are freedom fighters and possess clear rights, emphasizing that the [Palestinian] Authority will not allow Israel to treat our prisoners as criminals.
Karake said this during a visit he conducted, together with a delegation from the Ministry and from the Jericho district, to the families of the two prisoners Jum'a Adam and Ahmad Al-Takrouri in the Jericho district, and held an 'iftar' [breaking the Ramadan fast in the evening] meal with the families...
Karake's statement came in response to the words of the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, who regarded Karake's visits to the prisoners' families as incitement to violence and terror against Israel, and demanded an apology from Abbas.
Karake concluded his visit to the families of the two prisoners... by presenting a Freedom Award as a token of loyalty to them, of their resoluteness, and of their sacrifice in the occupation prisons. It should be noted that prisoners Adam and Al-Takrouri were sentenced to life terms, and were arrested in November 1988."
Karake said this during a visit he conducted, together with a delegation from the Ministry and from the Jericho district, to the families of the two prisoners Jum'a Adam and Ahmad Al-Takrouri in the Jericho district, and held an 'iftar' [breaking the Ramadan fast in the evening] meal with the families...
Karake's statement came in response to the words of the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, who regarded Karake's visits to the prisoners' families as incitement to violence and terror against Israel, and demanded an apology from Abbas.
Karake concluded his visit to the families of the two prisoners... by presenting a Freedom Award as a token of loyalty to them, of their resoluteness, and of their sacrifice in the occupation prisons. It should be noted that prisoners Adam and Al-Takrouri were sentenced to life terms, and were arrested in November 1988."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Sept. 6, 2010]
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