Amidst
the recent surge in violence and terror attacks in Israel, Palestinian[-Arab] men,
women and children continue to be incited to violence against Israeli
soldiers and civilians. Videos, cartoons, blogs and posts on social media
are being used by Fatah, the Palestinian Authority, and the Palestinian[-Arab]
media, as a call-to-action for average Palestinian[-Arabs] ...to sacrifice
their lives, and transform themselves into ‘martyrs’ for the cause of
...murder of Jews, and the destruction of the State of Israel.
The incitement is
occurring both passively and actively, manifesting itself in direct calls
for violence, as well as in the absence of condemnation of violence, as
President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas is yet to denounce any
of the terrorism that has occurred in recent weeks.
Below is a photo posted by the Fatah student
arm, calling for a demonstration at Quds University in Bethlehem.
The image below, showing a masked man
brandishing a knife and holding up two fingers in a V for
"Victory" was posted on the official Facebook page of the Fatah
Movement with the text: "We'll be victorious or die."
Another cartoon
encouraged more rock throwing, calling Palestinians to "Advance,
advance." [Al-Ayyam, Oct. 9, 2015] The cartoon shows a Palestinian
throwing a rock, with a Palestinian flag in the background.
Perhaps most
frightening however, is the way in which the perpetrators of this terrorism
have been glorified, celebrated, and honoured by the Palestinian Authority,
Fatah, and even [Arab] civilians.
Below is a
translation of what was posted on the Official Facebook page
of the Fatah Movement on October 26th, 2015, following an incident in which
an Arab terrorist stabbed and seriously wounded an IDF
soldier at a junction outside the Arab village of Bayt Einun, located
just north of Kiryat Arba in the West Bank.
The path of the struggle: Palestinian
National Liberation movement Fatah, North Hebron branch, escorts its Martyr
(Shahid) son to his wedding. Raed Saket Abd Al-Rahman Jaradat, who carried
out the stabbing operation at the Bet Anoun Junction
Another example of
this can be seen in the case of terrorist Muhannad Halabi, who stabbed and
murdered 2 Israelis, Rabbi Nehemiah Lavi and Aharon Bennett, and injured
Bennett's wife, Adele, and their 2-year-old son in the Old City of
Jerusalem on October 3rd, 2015.
Not only was Halabi,
the Palestinian law student, granted an honourary law degree, but the municipality of Surda-Abu Qash, where he
lived, has decided to name a street after him. "This is in order to
honor Halabi, who carried out a stabbing and shooting operation against
settlers in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem," the independent
Palestinian news agency Donia Al-Watan reported on October 14th, 2015,
"This is the
least we can do for Martyr Halabi," Mayor Muhammad Hussein explained,
insisting that naming the street after him is "intended to emphasize
the national role played by municipalities."
Paying tribute to
terrorists through naming in their honour has been adopted not only by
municipalities, but by parents. The official Fatah Facebook page posted the
picture below of a newborn Palestinian baby who has been named "Knife of Jerusalem." The
picture is accompanied by the following caption:
"A
[Palestinian] civilian from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip named his
daughter 'Knife of Jerusalem.'"
Not only are
terrorists being honoured for their actions, but those publicly supporting
the terrorism are being rewarded for their participation in the recent
uprising. Below is an inciting cartoon drawn by artist Al-Bukhari, who has recently been
awarded for his publications.
According
to Al-Hayat al-Jadida, the official daily newpapaper of the
Palestinian National Authority:
The president [Abbas] awarded the Order of
Merit for Culture, Sciences and Arts to the creator and artist Al-Bukhari
in recognition of his creative path in plastic arts and cartoons, and out
of recognition of his life full of giving, actions, struggle, and beauty,
in a way that fits Palestine and its resolute and full culture.
Here is an image of
Bukhari receiving his award from President Abbas.
Furthermore, a large
proportion of the incitement to violence is coming from a distortion of
facts, and at times, blatant lies about the acts of terrorism being
committed against Israeli soldiers and civilians.
For example, on
October 18th 2015, Muhannad Al-Okabi - a 21-year-old Israeli Bedouin
terrorist - entered the Be’er Sheva bus station with a knife and a pistol,
murdering 19-year-old Israeli soldier Sgt. Omri Levy, then grabbing his
automatic rifle to shoot at people in the station, wounding 11 others.
Al-Okabi was shot and killed by Israeli police.
While the forum of
Negev Bedouin council leaders strongly condemned the attack, stating that
"The terrorist who committed this act does not represent any Bedouin
residents, who favor coexistence and living together...", the
following was posted on theofficial Facebook page of Advisor to PA Chairman
Abbas on NGOs, and Fatah Central Committee member, Sultan Abu Al-Einein:
For a long time the Israeli enemy
officials have been boasting about the strength of their army, and they
have described it as an 'invincible army,' which has become the fourth
strongest army in the world. Yesterday, we saw the exact truth of
this army: A [well-] armed army which was beaten by Martyr Muhannad
Al-Okabi (terrorist who shot and killed 1 and wounded 11), and before him
Muhannad Halabi (terrorist who stabbed and killed 2 and wounded 2), even
though he was defenseless, and was not armed with anything but his right to
his homeland and his Palestinian will - the same will which the great
armies of the world have not been and will not be able to defeat or
harm. How many messages of sacrifice are showing in this scene? Armed
soldiers throwing down their weapons out of fear of Muhannad's knife,
others seeking a wall or fence out of fear of you, hero that you are. We
loved you, Muhannad. We loved you, while you sowed life for all
Palestinians. We and the whole world saw soldiers flee, despite being armed
with their weapons, the moment Martyr Muhannad [Al-Okabi] fell upon them,
when he was 'defenseless' or 'pulling out a knife.' Thus he created another
rung on the ladder of Palestinian praise, and has won the medal of honor as
a Martyr whose name is engraved on every Palestinian's chest. Note: I
advise the enemy to arrest everyone whose name is Muhannad.
The post paints
Al-Okabi as having been ‘defenseless’ and unarmed, with no mention of the
soldier he killed, or the 11 people that he wounded.
With the incitement
to violence strengthening, spreading, and self-perpetuating, it seems the
end to this conflict is far from in-sight.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment