Contrary to statements by both Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Chairman Mahmoud Abbas supporting a “non-violent resistance,” their actions continue to support violence and terror. As Palestinian Media Watch has reported, the PA leaders have repeatedly honored terrorists in well-publicized acts of support in recent months.

The PA leadership’s most recent show of terror support was last week, when both Abbas and Fayyad honored one of the notorious terrorists of the first years of the Palestinian terror war (the “Intifada”). The terrorist Abdallah Daoud headed the Palestinian intelligence service in Bethlehem, and was actively involved in the Palestinian terror against Israeli civilians. When Israel entered Bethlehem in 2002 in an attempt to eradicate the Palestinian terror, Abdallah Daoud was one of the most wanted Palestinian terrorists who stormed into the Church of the Nativity.

For several weeks, Daoud and his fellow terrorists continued fighting against Israel from inside the church, essentially using the monks and the religious site as their shields. The confrontation ended when Israel decided to let the terrorists leave without trial and they were deported to foreign countries and Gaza. Daoud was sent to Cypress and later Mauritania, where he died last week of natural causes.

Ignoring the crimes and terror that led to Daoud’s deportation, the PA leaders last week chose to honor the terrorist Daoud by giving him an “official” funeral. The official PA daily reported on the funeral with a large picture on its front page.

Abbas sent his personal emissary to the funeral. He spoke in Abbas’ name:

“We must maintain the way of the Shahid (Martyr) Daoud, who always believed in the struggle, in love of the homeland, and in the realization of national unity.” [Al-Quds, March 28, 2010]

Palestinian PM Fayyad chose to honor the terrorist publicly and in person by paying a condolence visit to the home of his family. Fayyad “enumerated the Shahid’s (Martyr’s) virtues” and noted his “suffering from the injustice of his expulsion.” The story of his honoring the terrorist was also reported on the front page of the official PA daily.

Other recent examples of Fayyad honoring terrorists:

On December 26, 2009, Fayyad paid condolence calls to the homes of each of the three terrorists who murdered Israeli Rabbi Meir Avshalom Hai in a drive-by shooting.

On February 14, 2010, Fayyad paid a condolence call to the family of a terrorist who attempted to stab an Israeli soldier.

Other recent examples of Abbas honoring terrorists:

On December 27, 2009, Abbas honored the three terrorists who murdered Israeli Rabbi Meir Avshalom Hai, in a drive-by shooting, calling them “Shahids [Martyrs] of the Palestinian revolution…”

On December 29, 2009, Abbas honored the terrorist Dalal Mughrabi with a birthday party.

On January 17, 2010 Abbas defended naming a square after the terrorist Dalal Mughrabi.

On March 6, 2010 Abbas promoted imprisoned terrorist Mahmoud Damra to major-general.

On March 9, 2010 Abbas’ representative honored the terrorist Dalal Mugrabi by calling her the “bridge over which we pass on the way to our freedom.”

The following is the report from the front page of the official PA daily about Fayyad’s condolences last week:

“Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayyad yesterday expressed his condolences at the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, over the death of the Shahid (Martyr) Abdallah Daoud. The Prime Minister enumerated the Shahid’s virtues and said that his death far from the homeland and suffering from the injustice of his expulsion, bestows upon his Martyrdom a clear national and human character.”

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 31, 2010]

The following is the report on Abbas’s statement read by Mahmoud Al-Aloul, member of the Fatah Central Committee, at the funeral:

“Mahmoud Al-Aloul, member of the Fatah Central Committee, delivered a speech on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas, during which he recounted the life story of the Shahid (Martyr), who sacrificed his life for his country and for his people. Al-Aloul said that we must maintain the way of the Shahid Daoud, who always believed in the struggle, in love of the homeland, and in the realization of national unity.”  [Al-Quds, March 28, 2010]

(Palestinian Media Watch – Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik)

In a related item, following is a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday (7 April) on the naming of a Ramallah street after arch-terrorist Yehiye Ayash Prime Minister’s Office.

“This is an outrageous glorification of terrorism by the Palestinian Authority.  Right next to a Presidential compound in Ramallah, the Palestinian Authority has named a street after a terrorist who murdered hundreds of innocent Israeli men, women and children.  The world must forcefully condemn this official Palestinian incitement for terrorism and against peace.”