Another
chapter is unfolding in the ongoing confrontation between Israel and
the Palestinian Authority over the naming of a square after the
terrorist Dalal Mughrabi. In
December, Palestinian Media Watch publicized that the Municipality of
Ramallah planned to name a public square in honor of the terrorist
Dalal Mughrabi, who led the worst terror attack in Israel´s history
when she and other terrorists hijacked a bus and murdered 37 civilians
in 1978. Prime Minister Netanyahu immediately protested to the
US and sharply criticized the PA for its intention to name the
square in Ramallah "after a terrorist who killed dozens of Israelis."
 The official PA daily newspaper reports today
that the PA has chosen to ignore PM Netanyahu´s criticism and
protests to the US. Not only does it
still intend to name the square after the terrorist, but the date
chosen for the inaugural ceremony is this Thursday, March 11, the 32nd
anniversary of the terror attack.
Since
PMW´s exposure of the story, PA leaders have repeatedly rejected PM
Netanyahu´s criticism while defending the practice of honoring
murderers, whom they honor as Martyrs (Shahids). PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas also referred to
the terror attack as "military activities."
See the
timeline of the ongoing dispute below.
After PMW´s exposure of the PA´s naming of
the square in December, Israeli
PM Netanyahu protested and condemned the intention:
"Today, and a week
ago, senior officials from the Prime Minister´s office conveyed a
protest to the US against Mahmoud Abbas... that the governor of
Ramallah named a square in her [Mughrabi´s] honor." [Israeli News Channel 2, Jan. 7, 2010]
"Whoever sponsors and supports naming a square in
Ramallah in honor of a terrorist who murdered dozens of Israelis on
the Coastal Road - encourages terror." [Galei Zahal, (IDF radio), Jan. 10, 2010]
Today the
official PA daily reports that the Municipality is continuing with
this Thursday´s inauguration:
Headline: "Preparations for inauguration of Shahida (Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi
Square complete"
"The El-Bireh Municipality has completed
construction work at the Shahida (Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi Square in the Um Al-
Sharait region, and has commenced preparations for its inauguration
this Thursday, the anniversary of Mughrabi´s Martyrdom. The mayor,
Jamal Al-Tawil, said that... this year the municipality will
celebrate the inauguration of the Shahida (Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi Square in order to
commemorate her memory and her sacrifice as a Palestinian woman who
resisted the occupation. City Council member Aida Abu-Ubeid said that
the square is considered a symbol of the sacrifice of the Palestinian
woman. She also noted that flowers and trees will be planted there,
and that a picture of the Shahida Dalal Mughrabi will be placed at the center
of the square."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 7, 2010]
There has been no public comment from the Obama
administration about the PA´s honoring of the terrorist.
Timeline on Dalal Mughrabi Square debate:
Dec. 31,
2009: PMW releases story of PA´s intention to name square after
Mughrabi
Jan. 7, 2010: PM Netanyahu protests
PA´s honoring Mughrabi to the US
"Today, and a week ago, senior officials from the Prime
Minister´s office conveyed a protest to the US against Mahmoud
Abbas... that the governor of Ramallah named a square in her
[Mughrabi´s] honor." [Israeli
News Channel 2]
Jan. 10: PM Netanyahu opens cabinet meeting with criticism of
PA´s honoring Mughrabi
"Whoever sponsors and supports naming a square in Ramallah in
honor of a terrorist who murdered dozens of Israelis on the Coastal
Road - encourages terror."
[Galei Zahal, (IDF radio), Jan. 10, 2010]
Jan. 11: PA
Minister of Culture, Siham Barghouti, rejects Netanyahu´s
protest
"Honoring them
this way [by naming places after Martyrs] is the least we can give
them, and this is our right."
[Al-Ayyam, Jan. 11, 2010]
Jan. 17: PA
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas rejects Netanyahu´s protest
"I do not deny [the naming]. Of course we
want to name a square after her [Mughrabi]... [We] carried out
military activities; can I then later renounce all that we have done?
No, I don´t renounce it."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan.
17, 2010]
Feb. 3: Ashraf Ajrami, former PA Minister of Prisoners´
Affairs, defends naming
"[PA] talk about Shahids (Martyrs) is considered, from their
[Israel´s] point of view, extremism and support for terror...
Likewise, naming a square after Dalal Mughrabi is [according to
Israel] reason for criticism and attack." [Al-Ayyam,
Feb. 3, 2010]
Feb. 25: Mahmoud Al-Aloul, General Commissioner for
Recruitment and Organization, emphasizes importance of
naming
"Mahmoud Al-Aloul,
member of the Fatah Central Committee and General Commissioner for
Recruitment and Organization, emphasized that it is important to
continue commemorating the memory of the Shahids (Martyrs) and the Palestinian acts of
heroism, and most importantly the anniversary of the Martyrdom of
Dalal Mughrabi, heroine of the Coastal Road operation [terror
attack], which falls on March 11th each year." [Al-Hayat Al-
Jadida, Feb. 25, 2010]
Today, March 7: PA daily announces
Thursday´s inauguration of square
"The El-Bireh Municipality has completed construction
work at the Shahida (Martyr)
Dalal Mughrabi Square ... and has commenced preparations for its
inauguration this Thursday, the anniversary of Mughrabi´s
Martyrdom... City Council member Aida Abu-Ubeid said that the square
is considered a symbol of the sacrifice of the Palestinian woman. She
also noted that flowers and trees will be planted there, and that a
picture of the Shahida Dalal
Mughrabi will be placed at the center of the square." [Al-
Hayat Al-Jadida, March 7, 2010]
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