Moderate murders: Moderate Palestinian Abbas to honor terrorists

Don't we wonder if these "little gaffes" are ever raised by Israelis in talks with the Palestinians?

 

Abbas honors Sbarro killer's driver
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST  Apr. 16, 2008

 

The Al Kuds Mark of Honor, the PLO's highest medal, will be given to two female terrorists who helped kill Israelis, Israel Radio reported Wednesday.

 

Ahlam Tamimi, a Hamas affiliate serving a life sentence for driving the suicide bomber who exploded himself in the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem, killing at least half a dozen people, including a whole family and Amra Muna, who seduced Ophir Rahum over the Internet and then lured him to Ramallah where he was murdered, will both be awarded the medal.

 

Conferring the Al Kuds Mark of Honor is decided at the discretion of the Palestinian Authority's president, and he alone has the final say when choosing the Palestinians to be honored with the medal.

 

Palestinian Minister for Prisoner Affairs Ashraf el Ajami told Israel Radio that his ministry gave PA President Mahmoud Abbas a comprehensive list of prisoners and his office chose the nominees from this list.

 

Ajami refused to confirm that the medal would be given to Tamimi and Muna, saying that he didn't want to "ruin the surprise" for the families attending the ceremony scheduled for Thursday.

 

Abbas himself was en route to Russia and his staff refused to comment on the report.

 

Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar said the report was "troubling and severe" news, but added that if the report were true, it would continue a recent history of doublespeak from Abbas, which, Sa'ar said, presented different Palestinian intentions and narratives when speaking to Arab crowds and when addressing Western diplomats.

 

Sa'ar mentioned a recent article where Abbas - Israel's Palestinian peace partner - hinted that a return to armed struggle might be in the benefit of the Palestinian cause.