Special Report Bethlehem: a Christian City Or a Terror City?

Special Report Bethlehem: A Christian City or a Terror City?

PMW calls on all sister cities of Bethlehem to demand that the Bethlehem Municipality stop all terror promoting activities and remove all terror glorifying symbols from its public areas, as a condition for continued sister city relations.

By Itamar Marcus and PMW staff Contents Introduction Part 1: Bethlehem public terror promotion: Parades, monuments, street names Part 2: Bethlehem Municipality participates and hosts terror promotion Part 3: Terror promotion for youth in Bethlehem

Introduction Christian tourists walking through the streets of Bethlehem will visit Manger Square, the Milk Grotto, and of course the Church of the Nativity. But Christian holiness is not all that tourists will encounter on their pilgrimage. They will also see the monument to a Palestinian terrorist who murdered a 15-year-old Israeli boy in a drive-by shooting. They will also see what Palestinians call “the Tree of Freedom” - adorned with pictures of 73 terrorists serving life sentences for murder. In the center of the city itself, they will see a monument with photographs of 52 terrorists serving life sentences. Continuing the stroll, tourists may find themselves on "Martyr Abu Jihad Street” named after the Palestinian arch-terrorist responsible for the murder of 125, or “Martyr Hussein Abayat Street," named after one of the commanders of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a murderous terror organization.

Christian tourists who are in Bethlehem on New Year’s Day will witness the annual parade celebrating Fatah’s first terror attack. In recent years this included masked children marching through the streets holding toy RPGs and wearing mock suicide belts along with adults carrying automatic rifles and hatchets.

Terror promotion in Bethlehem is overt and inescapable. Every resident of the city is exposed to the public displays in the streets promoting violence for children and adults alike. Monuments and street names glorify terrorists who deliberately murdered Israeli civilians.

This Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) Special Report exposes this fundamental problem. It documents monuments, activities, and leadership statements from recent years showing that the Bethlehem Municipality openly and actively supports terror and glorifies Palestinian terrorists. Some examples reveal the direct promotion of terror by municipality officials or through municipality events. Other examples expose indirect support under which the Bethlehem Municipality permitted terror promoting events to take place within the city.

Bethlehem’s terror promotion is not a one-time event but a chronic illness of the city. This report gives examples of Bethlehem’s terror promotion and glorification over a number of years, starting with the most recent terror promotion on Jan 1, 2020, to detail the extent of the problem under current and past leadership.

Bethlehem Municipality’s glorification of terrorists and terror in general assures potential terrorists respect, honor, and fame, and creates a social environment that generates more terrorists. Just as those who incite terror or provide logistical support are facilitating terror attacks, those who honor terrorists are providing the motivation and impetus for future terror attacks.

Bethlehem has been defiled, and as much as it is a holy Christian city it is also a Palestinian terror city. Over 50 terrorists from Bethlehem are currently serving life-sentences for terror attacks. Most of them have murdered Israelis. As long as Bethlehem continues to honor these and other terrorists, that number will grow, as will the number of victims of Bethlehem- born terror.

Sister Cities of Bethlehem

Bethlehem currently enjoys sister city relations with many cities across the globe. This constitutes both an opportunity and a responsibility for these cities to take a stand against Bethlehem’s terror promotion and glorification documented in this report.

Due to their special relationships, sister cities can be the drive for solution to this problem of Bethlehem’s terror promoting environment. As the war on terror worldwide is recognized as a fundamental challenge for the free world, sister cities cannot ignore their responsibility. Maintaining sister city relations with Bethlehem while ignoring that Bethlehem actively promotes and glorifies terror, is sending the unintended message to Bethlehem’s leaders that Bethlehem’s terror promotion policies are acceptable. Silence is approval.

PMW is calling on all sister cities of Bethlehem to demand from Bethlehem Municipality a fundamental purification of the city of all terror symbols, the removal of all monuments and memorials honoring terrorists, the renaming of streets honoring murderers, the complete elimination of terror glorification from the schools and streets of Bethlehem and the cessation of public events honoring terrorists and promoting violence.

The examples of terror promotion and glorification in each chapter in reverse chronological order. Details of the terrorist or the attack being glorified will only be noted the first time they are mentioned. The appendix includes details on all terrorists and attacks glorified by or in Bethlehem cited in this report.

Bethlehem’s Sister Cities

Buenos Aires, Argentina Chivasso, Italy Baden bei Wien, Austria Brescia, Italy Steyr, Austria Civitavecchia, Italy Natal, Brazil Este, Italy Villa Alemana, Chile Florence, Italy Concepción, Chile Montevarchi, Italy Barranquilla, Columbia Orvieto, Italy Třebechovice pod Pavia, Italy Orebem, Czech Republic San Miniato, Italy Haapsalu, Estonia Verona, Italy Chartres, France Għajnsielem, Malta Grenoble, France Monterrey, Mexico Montpellier, France Dakhla, Morocco Lourdes, France Sarpsborg, Norway Strasbourg, France Cusco, Peru Creil, France Częstochowa, Poland Lisbon, Saint-Herblain, France Portugal Cologne, Germany Bucharest, Romania Athens, Greece Saint Petersburg, Russia Kalocsa, Hungary Tournai, Belgium Assisi, Italy Córdoba, Spain Catanzaro, Italy Gijon, Spain Capri, Italy Leganés, Spain Turin, Italy Zaragoza, Spain Greccio, Italy Abu Dhabi, United Arab Gallipoli, Italy Emirates Gaeta, Italy Glasgow, United Kingdom Faggiano, Italy Burlington, Vermont , USA Cori, Italy

Part 1: Bethlehem public terror promotion: Parades, monuments, street names

The Bethlehem Municipality puts terror and terrorists on a pedestal. Violence and terror are glorified in military parades and monuments honor murderers. Streets are named after mass murderers and one school has the name of a 17-year-old suicide bomber etched in stone at the entrance to the school, reminding the students daily that a terrorist murderer of their own age is their role model. The Bethlehem terror environment impacts all people, but especially children who grow up seeing terrorists honored as heroes and role models and innocently conclude that attacking and killing Israelis is what is expected of them. The Municipality of Bethlehem is creating a generation of hate and terror-minded youth from which future terrorists will emerge.

The following are examples of public parades, monuments, rallies, and exhibits in the streets of Bethlehem which glorified terror and terrorists, and in many of which also children were involved.

Bethlehem opened 2020 with a clear message to its citizens and the rest of the world: Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Movement has put violence and terror against Israel on the agenda for 2020. Numerous Palestinian men and women participated in Fatah’s January 1 marches and demonstrations through the streets of Bethlehem carrying assault rifles and handguns, and wearing military uniforms and masks to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Fatah’s first terror attack against Israel in 1965 and the launch of the movement.

The following are pictures from the streets of Bethlehem showing armed Fatah members marching with their weapons through the city:

Armed and masked Fatah fighters stand beside pictures of arch-terrorist Abu Jihad (right), responsible for the murder of 125 Israelis, and Black September terrorist organization leader Salah Khalaf, who planned the massacre of the Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972:

More masked men during Fatah’s Jan. 1, 2020 Bethlehem march:

The Governor of Bethlehem Kamel Hamid also participated in a Bethlehem march in which terrorists were honored. [Official Fatah Facebook page, Jan. 1, 2020]

In 1978, terrorist Dalal Mughrabi led the killing of 37 Israeli civilians, among them these 12 children:

During the recent marches in Bethlehem, young girls marched through the streets holding up a picture of terrorist Dalal Mughrabi who led the murder of these 12 children. See following picture of murderer Mughrabi:

The picture below shows posters at the Bethlehem march honoring numerous additional terrorists from the early years of Fatah, the 1960s and 1970s, when Fatah was a designated terror organization, including: Fatah co-founder Sakher Habash, Fatah leader and senior Black September member Kamal Adwan, Fatah co-founder Khaled Al-Hassan, Deputy Commander of Operations for Fatah's Al-Asifa terror unit, Mamdouh Saidam, Fatah and PLO leader Majed Abu Sharar, Fatah co-founder Subhi Abu Karsh, Fatah and PLO terror leader Hani Al-Hassan, Fatah and PLO terror leader Saad Sayel, Fatah commander who led PLO terrorist forces in Lebanon during the 1980s.

2020 is not the first year that Bethlehem celebrated Fatah’s first terror attack against Israel with marches promoting violence. In 2016 and 2017 there were similar events.

In 2016, young boys wore masks and mock “explosive belts,” and held toy guns and RPGs. The following are some of the photos from the event:

Boy wearing “suicide belt”:

Boy with “RPG”:

Other marchers with pistols, automatic rifles, and a hatchet.

[Ma’an, independent Palestinian news agency, Jan. 7, 2016]

The official PA daily also reported on the event noting the participation of children carrying imitations of weapons and suicide belts:

“The Fatah movement in Bethlehem marked the 51st anniversary of the Launch … Thousands set out from three places in processions that passed through a number of streets in the district and met at the Martyr’s Tower in the Deheisheh refugee camp… At the head of the procession… stood masked men, and behind them walked children who wore black shirts with pictures of the deceased president Yasser Arafat and Martyr Jihad Al-Ja'afari, called ‘Gaddafi,’ under the name ‘death squads.’ Likewise, children were seen carrying models of RPGs [rocket- propelled grenades] and explosive belts.” [Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 8, 2016]

In 2017, Bethlehem also welcomed the new year with a terror promotion parade. Several pictures from the event highlighted the masked marchers. And as in 2020, there was a giant poster of female terrorist Dalal Mughrabi who led murder of 37 civilians.

Significantly, the poster of terrorist Dalal Mughrabi was given great prominence in the Bethlehem parade. It was placed beside the posters of PA leaders Mahmoud Abbas and Yasser Arafat:

The rifles and other symbols of terror led one news agency to refer to it as a “military parade”:

Headline: “Fatah held a military parade for the anniversary of its Launch in Bethlehem: “The Fatah branch in Bethlehem held a military parade today, Sunday, on the 52nd anniversary of the outbreak of the Palestinian revolution (i.e., first terror attack)…. Taking part in the military parade were the organizational branches, the student organizations, groups of masked people, and the Sisters of Dalal [the Palestinian universities' Fatah committee], who passed through the streets of the city…” [Ma’an, independent Palestinian news agency, Jan. 1, 2017]

Stone monument at entrance to Bethlehem High School presents 17- year-old female suicide bomber as a role model for children

This picture shows the entrance to the Bethlehem High School for Girls. To the left of the entrance is a stone monument with a dedication which not only glorifies the PA terror campaign from 2000-2005, (The second Intifada) in general, but singles out and specifically honors the 17- year-old female suicide bomber Ayyat Al-Akhras, who murdered 2, and wounded 28 in her Jerusalem bombing.

The wall of the school also bears a drawing of former PA Chairman Yasser Arafat. To the right of it is the logo of the Fatah Shabiba Youth Movement that includes the PA map of “Palestine” that presents all of Israel as “Palestine” in the colors of the Palestinian flag .

Text on memorial: “This memorial was established in cooperation between the Education Directorate (i.e., of the PA Ministry of Education) and the Fatah Shabiba [Youth Movement] organization, in order to commemorate the Martyrs of the Al-Aqsa Intifada (i.e., PA terror campaign 2000-2005, more than 1,100 Israelis murdered) at the Bethlehem High School for Girls for the anniversary of the outbreak of the Palestinian revolution, Jan. 1, 2003 Martyr Ayyat Al-Akhras (i.e., suicide bomber, murdered 2, wounded 28) Martyr Nida Al-Izza (i.e., Palestinian who apparently was accidentally shot by Israeli soldiers)”

[Facebook page of the Bethlehem High School for Girls, Nov. 19, 2019]

Needless to say, this constitutes very strong role modeling for the girls at the school who are of exactly the same age as the suicide bomber.

Bethlehem Municipality established a permanent monument that honors terrorist who shot and murdered a 15-year-old Israeli boy

In 2002, Palestinian terrorist Raed Abayat of Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades murdered 15- year-old Israeli Avi Boaz in a drive-by shooting east of Bethlehem and ambushed and shot and killed Israeli police officer Moshe Dayan. Terrorist Abayat was killed in an exchange of gunfire with Israeli soldiers on April 3, 2006. Bethlehem decided to honor the murderer with a permanent monument with a picture of him holding a rifle. [Official Fatah Facebook page, April 3, 2016]

Bethlehem Municipality built exhibit honoring 52 terrorists from Bethlehem serving life sentences

[Donia Al-Watan (independent Palestinian news agency), Dec. 30, 2015]

In honor of the 52 terrorists from Bethlehem who are serving life sentences, the Mayor of Bethlehem Vera Baboun and the District Governor of Bethlehem Jabrin Al-Bakri participated in an unveiling ceremony of an exhibit. Speeches were made emphasizing, “this exhibit is a salute of loyalty and commitment to the prisoners serving time in the occupation’s prisons.” It should be clear that virtually all terrorists sentenced to life in prison are either murderers or those who facilitated or planned a murder. The images above show some of the terrorists who were honored in the exhibit, all of whom participated in murderous terror attacks, including Ahmed Adel Sa’adeh, Ashraf Hajajreh, Amjad Takatka, Jawad Jawarish, Yasser Rabai’ah, and Mahmoud Abu Sorour.

“Yesterday was the unveiling of the exhibit in Bethlehem in honor of the district’s 52 prisoners sentenced to life, sponsored and supervised by the Bethlehem Municipality and the union of released prisoners. Present at the event were Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki, Director of PLO Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Karake, Governor of Bethlehem district Jabrin Al-Bakri, Mayor of Bethlehem Vera Baboun, and [Greek-Orthodox] Archbishop [of Sebastia] Atallah Hanna...” [Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 31, 2015]

Bethlehem Municipality named streets after terrorists

The Bethlehem Municipality named a street after Abu Jihad, an arch-terrorist responsible for the murder of 125 Israelis: “The Martyr Khalil Al-Wazir (Abu Jihad) Street.”

The municipality named another street after a terrorist murderer who was involved in shooting attacks against Israeli civilians and military in the Bethlehem area: "The Martyr Hussein Abayat Street." The terrorist was the commander of Fatah’s terror wing the Al- Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.

Bethlehem Municipality dedicated a city square to “Martyrs’ Square,” - “in order to honor all the Martyrs of Bethlehem”

The Bethlehem Municipality decided to name a square in the Wad Shahin area of Bethlehem “Martyrs’ Square,” “in order to honor all the Martyrs of Bethlehem.” In addition, it held a competition to design a monument or structure to be placed in the center of the square on which would be inscribed “the names of the Martyrs, the dates of their deaths as Martyrs, and also pictures of Martyr Atef Abayat (i.e.,Fatah leader accused of murdering 1), and his comrades Martyrs Jamal Nawawreh, (i.e., commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades) and Issa Al-Khatib.”

Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun honored terrorist Abayat and the others by personally signing the announcement and authorizing the monument competition. [Bethlehem Municipality website, announcement of name of square Nov. 28, 2016; Mayor’s signing of monument competition announcement Dec. 19, 2016]

Part 2: Bethlehem Municipality participates and hosts terror promotion

Aside from the permanent monuments to terror established by the Bethlehem Municipality and the public marches with rifles and other weapons, the Bethlehem Municipality hosts, sponsors, and participates in terror promotion activities in the city. The District Governor of Bethlehem went so far as to honor one of the Palestinian terrorists who desecrated the Church of the Nativity in 2002, who together with other terrorists, held the monks hostage and used them and the church as shields from arrest for 39 days.

The following are some of these examples:

Bethlehem mayor honored car bomber

Bethlehem Mayor Anton Salman honored female terrorist Israa Ja’abis, who carried out a car bomb attack. The mayor showed appreciation for her and her attack by giving her son a gift. In the picture Bethlehem Mayor Salman stands with terrorist Ja’abis’ son. [Facebook page of Fatah Movement – Al-Khader Branch, Dec. 22, 2018]

Bethlehem mayor participated in ceremony for terrorists

Bethlehem Mayor Anton Salman honored Fatah terror leader by participating in a ceremony marking the 17th anniversary of the deaths of terrorist Atef Abayat – a Fatah terror leader accused of murdering 1 – Issa Abayat, and Jamal Nawawreh (commander of Fatah’s terror wing the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades.) PNN, the independent Palestinian news agency, reported that speeches were given at the event praising the three and their activities during the PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005). In the picture Bethlehem

Mayor Salman is standing second from the left and jointly holding an honorary plaque for the family of terrorist Jamal Nawawreh.

Text on plaque: “Granted by the Fatah Movement Bethlehem Branch To the family of Martyr Jamal Nawawreh Commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades for the anniversary of his death as a Martyr 2018” [PNN, independent Palestinian news agency, Oct. 19, 2018]

Bethlehem hosted a sports championship honoring terrorist murderers serving life sentences and named it after arch-terrorist Abu Jihad

At the “Martyr Khalil Al-Wazir [Abu Jihad] and Loyalty to the Bethlehem District Prisoners [Futsal] Championship,” families of terrorist murderers from the Bethlehem district were honored and the terrorists themselves glorified. The event was named after Abu Jihad, a terrorist responsible for the murder of 125 Israelis.

“From the Martyr Khalil Al-Wazir [Abu Jihad] and Loyalty to the Bethlehem District Prisoners [Futsal] Championship, which was organized by the Fatah Movement’s Bethlehem branch. During it, family members of the prisoners from the district who are serving life sentences were honored.” [Official Fatah Facebook page, May 1, 2018]

At the event, family members of terrorists were presented with honorary posters of their imprisoned terrorist relatives in a show of “Loyalty to the [Bethlehem District] Prisoners.”

The images above show posters depicting terrorists Ali Abu Hleil and Ahmad Salah, each serving 21 life sentences for their involvement in two suicide bombings on buses in Jerusalem in which 19 people were murdered and over 100 injured. The posters are held by the families of the terrorists.

Aside from these terrorists, 10 other terrorist murderers were honored in the same way. See appendix below for full list. [Facebook page of the independent Palestinian news agency Al-Hadath, May 1, 2018]

Bethlehem District Governor Jibril Al-Bakri participated in “vigil of solidarity and loyalty” for terrorist responsible for numerous lethal attacks

Bethlehem District Governor Jibril Al-Bakri participated with the Bethlehem branch of the Fatah Movement in a vigil of solidarity “for the most veteran prisoner of the Bethlehem district Muhammad Al-Tous ‘Abu Shadi’.” Al-Tous was the commander of a terrorist cell that attacked 5 Israeli civilian buses, wounding 16 passengers, and also took part in the murder of several Israelis in the years 1984-1985

Headline: “Bethlehem: Vigil of solidarity with prisoner living-Martyr Muhammad Al- Tous” “The vigil was held… in the presence of [Director of PLO Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa] Karake, Bethlehem District Governor Jibril Al-Bakri, the secretaries of the Bethlehem and Hebron branches, Fatah Movement members, and the families of the prisoners and Martyrs, and as part of it candles were lit for the prisoner and all of the male and female prisoners.” [Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 19, 2018]

District Governor of Bethlehem participated in ceremony honoring former terrorist who became mayor of a city in the Bethlehem district

Raafat Jawabreh, who directed numerous terrorist attacks, including a bombing and shooting attack at a supermarket in Efrat, south of Bethlehem, in which 1 Israeli was wounded, became the mayor of Al-Doha, a city in the Bethlehem district. Jawabreh was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment in 2002, and was released in December 2017.

“District Governor of Bethlehem Jabrin Al-Bakri, Director of [PLO] Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Karake, and Secretary-General of the Local Government Administration Shukri Radaideh were present at the ceremony.” [Ma’an, independent Palestinian news agency, Jan. 1, 2018]

Terrorist Raafat Jawabreh stands on the far right.

Bethlehem Education Directorate held event at elementary school in support of terrorist murderers, released terrorist murderer honored at event

The Bethlehem Education Directorate held an event in honor of “the week of solidarity with the prisoners." The event took place in a girls’ elementary school, and present were Director of the Bethlehem Education Directorate Sami Marwah and released terrorist murderer Rizq Salah, who killed an Israeli soldier and injured two others with a bomb. The terrorist was honored at the event.

“The Al-Khader Elementary School for Girls organized events of solidarity with the prisoners in the presence of Director of the Bethlehem Education Directorate Sami Marwah, Director of [PLO] Commission of Prisoners and Released Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Karake, Mayor of Al-Khader Is'haq Sbeih, and senior [released] prisoner of Al-Khader Rizq Salah (i.e., terrorist, murdered 1)… The solidarity events at the Al-Khader Elementary School for Girls included much art and heritage, and the dedication of a wall relief for the prisoners and its signing, in addition to the honoring of released prisoner Rizq Salah." [Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 15, 2017]

Governor of Bethlehem Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel joined Bethlehem University festival of “allegiance and loyalty” to terrorist murderers

Governor of Bethlehem Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel joined Palestine Ahliya University in Bethlehem at a festival glorifying arch-terrorist Abu Jihad, responsible for the murder of 125, and terrorist murderer Dalal Mughrabi, who led the murder of 37. The images above are from the exhibition at the festival. The Governor of Bethlehem spoke at the event:

Governor of Bethlehem Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel: "We, the leadership of the parties and factions and the PA, have to keep up with this pulse and spirit... An exhibition was held as part of the festival, entitled: 'The Dalal [Mughrabi] Republic.'" [Official PA TV, March 25, 2014]

District Governor of Bethlehem and other PA leaders attended Bethlehem event at which a Fatah official promoted the need for more blood and violence to achieve Palestinian goals, and praised terrorist murderers

Several PA officials attended an event in Bethlehem marking World Teachers’ Day, including District Governor of Bethlehem Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel and director of the Bethlehem Education Administration Nisreen Yasser Amr. A speech by Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq Tirawi encouraged further violence while discouraging negotiation with Israel:

Fatah Central Committee member Tawfiq Tirawi: "I say, from a position of responsibility, not a centimeter of Jerusalem will be liberated unless every grain of Palestinian soil is soaked in the blood of its brave people. For Jerusalem

doesn't need negotiations, because negotiations will not bring Jerusalem back to us.” [Official PA TV Live, Dec. 19, 2013]

A second speech praised school teachers for having educated children to participate in the first intifada, in which approximately 200 Israelis were murdered. The child-terrorists who killed by throwing stones at moving cars and throwing Molotov cocktails, were called “the holy generation of stones.” The teachers were compared to terrorists such as Abu Iyad (Salah Khalaf), who planned the Munich Olympics massacre in which 11 Israelis were murdered, Khalil Al-Wazir - Abu Jihad, responsible for the murder of 125 Israelis, and Ahmed Yassin, founder and former head of the terrorist organization Hamas. Indicative of the deep entrenchment of terror in the Palestinian Authority and Bethlehem is that when a teachers’ union leader wanted to honor teachers of Bethlehem, he told them they “follow in the path” of arch-terrorists like Ahmad Yassin, the Hamas terror leader who sent suicide bombers to blow up hundreds of Israeli men, women and children.

Ahmed Sahwil speaking for the General Union of Palestinian Teachers: “Teachers and education community… it is you who educated the generation of the first Intifada, the holy generation of stones, and [you educated] the generation of the second Intifada (i.e., PA terror campaign 2000-2005)… You, teachers of Palestine, are those who deserve only pride, for you are the brothers of Salah Khalaf, the Martyr teacher and his brother, Khalil Al-Wazir, the Martyr teacher, as well as the brothers of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. These great leaders – you are their brothers and you follow their path.” [Official PA TV Live, Dec. 19, 2013]

District Governor of Bethlehem honored released terrorists from Bethlehem in ceremony held in high school for girls

Bethlehem’s Education Administration held an event to honor released terrorists. During the ceremony, which was held at the Bethlehem High School for Girls, District Governor of Bethlehem Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel gave a speech. The released terrorists honored at the event were Issa Abd Rabbo, who murdered two Israeli students while they were having a picnic in a forest. The terrorist tied them up and then shot them in the head. Also honored by the Governor of Bethlehem were Khaled Asakra who murdered a 64-year-old French tourist, Khaled Al-Azraq, who murdered a 71-year-old Israeli, Rizq Salah, who murdered an Israeli soldier, and Saad Nawawreh, who planned several shooting and bombing attacks.

“Bethlehem’s Education Administration and the Prisoners’ Association honored yesterday a group of the released prisoners in a ceremony held at the Bethlehem High School for Girls. In his speech during the honoring [ceremony], District Governor of Bethlehem Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel related to the fact that this activity, in which our people expressed its happiness over the prisoners’ release, coincided with the ninth anniversary of leader Yasser Arafat’s Martyrdom death… The [following] Bethlehem prisoners were honored at the end of the ceremony: Issa Abd Rabbo, Khaled Al-Azraq, Rizq Salah, Khaled

Asakra and Saad Nawawreh and an additional number of relatives of Bethlehem prisoners who were sentenced to life in prison.” [Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 27, 2013] Reprinted in WAFA, official PA news agency]

Bethlehem District Governor attended ceremony honoring released terrorist murderers

An event marking the anniversary of the death of Yasser Arafat and honoring the Bethlehem district’s released terrorist prisoners was attended by District Governor of Bethlehem Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel. Also present were the released terrorist murderers:

“The ceremony was attended by District Governor of Bethlehem Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel, representatives from the Aida refugee camp’s popular council, representatives from the national forces, released prisoners Khaled Al-Azraq, Issa Abd Rabbo, Rizq Salah and Khaled Asakra, respected dignitaries and journalists as well as residents from the Aida refugee camp… The ceremony was concluded by honoring the released prisoners.” [Al-Ayyam, Nov. 19, 2013]

Bethlehem Governor called to “follow in the footsteps” of “the heroes” – imprisoned terrorist murderers - at event honoring released terrorist murderer from Bethlehem

At an event in honor of Khaled Asakra, a released terrorist prisoner who murdered a 64- year-old French tourist, Bethlehem District Governor Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel called to “follow in the footsteps of those who sacrificed for freedom and independence.” He also referred to terrorists as “heroes”:

"Bethlehem District Governor Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel called on the Palestinian prisoners to continue their struggle, to unite ranks and restore national unity, until the Presidential, Parliamentary and National Council elections are held. He said: 'The prisoners' determination and resolve in the prisons charge us with a new responsibility to follow in the footsteps of those who sacrificed for freedom and independence,' and added: 'Perhaps the heroes' resolve will teach us all a lesson in resolve and giving.' This was said during the ceremony organized yesterday [Aug. 22, 2013] by the Prisoners' and Released Prisoners' Association in the Al-Finiq hall in the Deheisheh refugee camp to honor Bethlehem's most veteran released prisoner Khaled Asakra, who served 23 years in the occupation's prisons.” [Al-Ayyam, Aug. 23, 2013]

Bethlehem Municipality hosted ceremony honoring female suicide bombers

The Bethlehem Municipality marked Palestinian Martyrs’ Day by honoring the female suicide bombers from the district, among them 17-year-old Ayyat Al-Akhras, who murdered 2 Israelis, and Andalib Khalil Muhammad Suleiman, who murdered 6 and injured over

80. Both the Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun and Bethlehem District Governor Abdel Fattah Hamayil spoke at the event.

“Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun said that the existence of Palestinian female Martyrs is very significant to everything having to do with a woman’s role in all aspects of life. She made clear that there are more than 20 female Martyrs from the Bethlehem District. Bethlehem District Governor Abdel Fattah Hamayil said: ‘The Martyrs’ victory began to be realized through the declaration of Palestinian statehood, in spite of all the efforts to eradicate the Palestinian identity.’ … At the end of the ceremony, tribute was paid to the families of the female Martyrs of the district … [among them 17-year-ol suicide bomber] Ayyat Al-Akhras… and Andalib Khalil Muhammad Suleiman.” [Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 16, 2013]

District Governor of Bethlehem attended event in Bethlehem that served as platform for honoring terrorist murderers

District Governor of Bethlehem Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel participated in a ceremony in Bethlehem marking the 48th anniversary of the founding of Fatah, during which Fatah Central Committee member Saeb Erekat honored terrorist murderers Marwan Barghouti, who is serving 5 life sentences for orchestrating shooting attacks in which 5 Israeli civilians were murdered; Ahmad Sa’adat, who is serving 30 years for heading the terrorist organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); Mahmoud Al-Ramahi, who is affiliated with the terror organization Hamas; and Karim Younes, who murdered an Israeli soldier.

Saeb Erekat, member of Fatah Central Committee: “Now, let us first begin by recalling those whom we planted as seeds to grow and provide shade for us in all seasons, the brave-hearted Martyrs. Chief among Martyrs, our commander and mentor, eternal Martyr commander, the creator of our glory, honor, and power, Yasser Arafat. Colleagues: Commander Marwan Al-Barghouti, Commander Ahmad Sa’adat, Commander Mahmoud Al-Ramahi, elder prisoner Karim Younes, and the thousands of our sons and daughters in prison and our brave wounded.” [Official PA TV, Dec. 31, 2012]

Bethlehem District Governor praised as “heroic prisoner” the murderer of 3 Israelis, saluted all terrorist prisoners with "appreciation and pride"

Bethlehem District Governor Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel appeared on official PA TV visiting the home of the father of convicted terrorist Amer Abu Sarhan, who stabbed 3 Israelis to death.

Bethlehem District Governor Abd Al- Fattah Hamayel: "I'm glad to be in this thriving home, home of the father of the heroic prisoner, Amer Abu Sarhan. We honor him greatly through you [PA TV]. To all his fellow prisoners -- the brave and heroic who are resolute in Ribat (i.e., religious conflict over land claimed to be Islamic) -- to the glorious female prisoners in the occupation's prisons -- we salute you and express our utmost appreciation and pride."

[Official PA TV, Aug. 2, 2011]

“Tree of Freedom for Prisoners” planted in Bethlehem in honor of 73 terrorist prisoners serving life sentences

District Governor of Bethlehem Hamayel Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel attended a ceremony in Bethlehem honoring 73 terrorists from Bethlehem serving life sentences in Israeli prisons, at which the PA unveiled a "Tree of Freedom." Its branches were decorated with photographs of terrorists sentenced to life imprisonment. Virtually all terrorists sentenced to life in prison are either murderers or those who facilitated or planned a murder.

"The Bethlehem Committee of Families of Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, [the Bethlehem prisoners] numbering 73 in total, held a ceremony yesterday in their honor, as part of the events marking Prisoners' Day… attended by Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, Issa Karake, and Bethlehem district governor, Abd Al-Fatah Hamael... Speakers at the ceremony of honor included Minister Karake, [Bethlehem] district governor Hamael, and [Bethlehem] district deputy governor, Abu Ulia… At the end of the ceremony, the Tree of Freedom for Prisoners was unveiled, with photographs of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment hanging from its branches, in a glass case. It was agreed that it will be placed in a prominent location in the city of Bethlehem, as befitting the prisoners and their sacrifice." [Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 20, 2011]

District Governor of Bethlehem said terrorist prisoners “represent the purest and most noble cause,” as he gave candy to the families of terrorists serving life sentences

Bethlehem District Governor Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel visited the homes of several terrorist prisoners, distributing gift packages “with pictures of the prisoners printed on them.” Among the terrorists honored in this way were Khaled Al-Azraq, who murdered a 71-year-old Israeli, Mahmoud and Nasser Abu Sorour, who participated in the murder of an Israeli, Issa Abd Rabbo, who murdered two Israelis, Riyad Al-Amour, who was involved in the murder of 9

Israelis, Adnan Al-Afandi, who was convicted for attempted murder, and Rizq Salah, who murdered an Israeli soldier.

"Bethlehem District Governor, Abd Al-Fatah Hamael, conducted a visit yesterday to the homes of several prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment… The delegation visited the homes of prisoners Khaled Al-Azraq, Mahmoud Abu Sorour, Nasser Abu Sorour, Issa Abd Rabbo, Riyad Al-Amour, Adnan Al-Afandi, and Rizq Salah… The district governor and his entourage gave [the families] gift packages of sweets, with pictures of the prisoners printed on them... The district governor emphasized that the Palestinian people supports the sacrifice of the prisoners and their struggle, and that they represent the purest and most noble cause in Palestinian society." [Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 18, 2011]

Bethlehem District Governor honored a Palestinian terrorist who held monks hostage in the Church of the Nativity in 2002

The Bethlehem branch of Fatah organized a ceremony honoring terrorist Abdallah Daoud, who was one of the terrorists who invaded the Church of the Nativity in 2002, holding the monks and the religious site hostage to prevent their arrest by Israel. They continued to desecrate the church by using it and the monks as shields for their terror while shooting at Israel security forces until Israel agreed, after 39 days, to deport the terrorists to Europe. Bethlehem District Governor Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel at the event in honor of Daoud called “to continue on the path of the Martyrs of Palestine.”

“The Martyr Daoud's family was welcomed to Bethlehem, whose inhabitants share in the tragedy of the Martyr’s family at this memorial ceremony, emphasizing loyalty to him and the continuation in the path of the Martyrs… [Governor of the Bethlehem District Abd Al-Fattah] Hamayel … emphasized: 'We are here to remember the heroic commanders who recognized nothing but struggle and resistance.'” [Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 13, 2010]

Part 3: Terror Promotion Directed at Youth

Schools should be for education. Sporting events and summer camps should be for fun and recreation. In Bethlehem, however, they are also sources of terror promotion. The following are examples of terror promotion and glorification that are deliberately aimed at Bethlehem’s youth in schools, sporting events, and summer camps. It is particularly significant and impacting on youth, as in the few examples below, when the events are honoring teenage terrorists, who are of similar age to the young participants themselves. It is very easy for children to identity with and regard teenage terrorists as their personal role models.

Bethlehem High School for Girls held an exhibition commemorating terrorists

The Bethlehem High School for Girls held an event with the Fatah Shabiba High School Movement marking the anniversary of Yasser Arafat’s death. The exhibit prominently displayed posters of terrorists Dalal Mughrabi, who led the murder of 37, 12 of them children; Abu Jihad, responsible for the murder of 125 Israelis; and Saad Sayel, a Fatah commander who led the PLO terrorist forces based in Lebanon during the early 1980s. On the left is the photoshopped image of terrorist Dalal Mughrabi.

Text on image: “Dalal Mughrabi – the legend that will not die, [Fatah] Shabiba High School Committee – Bethlehem branch.”

Another photo shows imprisoned terrorist Marwan Barghouti who is responsible for the murder of 5. To the left of the photo of Barghouti is a photo of Yasser Arafat with the founder of the terror organization Hamas, Ahmed Yassin, responsible for the deaths of hundreds.

Two photos show arch-terrorist Abu Jihad, who was responsible for the murder of 125. In one of the photos Abu Jihad stands speaking with Arafat.

The entire exhibit in the Bethlehem High School was dedicated to honoring murderers of Israeli civilians. [Facebook page, Bethlehem High School for Girls, Nov. 12, 2019]

Bethlehem hosted karate championship for girls named after murderer of 37 Israeli civilians

"The southern branch of the Palestinian Karate Federation completed the kata and fighting championship for girls, the Sisters of Dalal Mughrabi Championship, at Putin Sports Hall in Bethlehem with the participation of 55 female athletes from a number of centers in the southern [West Bank]." [Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Sept. 13, 2019]

Bethlehem summer camp was named after 16-year-old who attempted to stab an Israeli civilian

Al-Dawha, a city in the Bethlehem district, held a summer camp called “Martyr Mamoun Al-Khatib Camp,” named after a 16-year-old terrorist who attempted to stab an Israeli civilian.

"Deputy Secretary-General [of the Southern Council] Najeh Al-Izza opened the Martyr Mamoun Al-Khatib Camp in the city of Al-Dawha in the Bethlehem district, and emphasized that the Supreme Council is focusing on the youth sector,

as it is the foundation of the future and the hope of the present. One hundred and twenty boys and girls will participate in the activities of the Martyr Mamoun Al- Khatib Camp, and it will be run by the Al-Dawha Club." [Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 17, 2016]

Bethlehem youth center hosted table tennis tournament named after murderer of 2

The Martyr Yasser Arafat Center for Youth in Bethlehem hosted the “Martyr Muhannad Halabi Tournament” named after a 19-year-old terrorist who stabbed and murdered 2 Israelis and also stabbed and seriously injured the wife and infant of one of the victims, before being shot and killed by Israeli forces.

“Vice President of the Palestine Table Tennis Association, Radwan Al-Sharif, crowned the Hebron Al-Ahli Club team as the Palestine Cup Champion for 2015 – the Martyr Muhannad Halabi Tournament… The championship was held on Friday under the patronage of Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestine Olympic Committee, and took place in the Martyr Yasser Arafat Center for Youth in Bethlehem.” [Ma’an, independent Palestinian news agency, Dec. 19, 2015]

Bethlehem District Governor sponsored "Martyrs’ Day Football Tournament," with children’s sports teams named after terrorists

Delivering greetings from District Governor Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel, Deputy Governor of Bethlehem Muhammad Taha attended the Martyrs’ Day Football Tournament, which was sponsored by Bethlehem District Governor and held under the supervision of the Youth and Sports Administration in Bethlehem. All of the participating teams bore the names of terrorists, including, Hussein Obeidat, who was involved in several shooting attacks against Israelis, Thaer Hasan, who headed an Islamic Jihad branch, Ali Alaan, responsible for the murder of dozens of Israelis in different terror attacks, Ahmed Al-Balboul, who headed a Fatah terror faction, and Marwan Zalum, responsible for the murder of several Israelis, including an infant.

Text on poster: "Sponsored by Bethlehem District Governor, Minister Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel – Palestinian Martyrs’ Day Tournament.”

“The Marwan Zalum team has won the Martyrs’ Day football tournament, organized by the National Association of Martyrs’ Families and the Institute for Families of the Martyrs and the Injured, under the supervision of the Youth and Sports Administration in Bethlehem… Present at the tournament were Deputy Governor of Bethlehem, Muhammad Taha. Seven teams participated, bearing the names of the Martyrs: Hussein Obeidat, Thaer Hasan, Ali Alaan, Jaris Kankar, Basel Abu-Sa’adi, Ahmed Al-Balboul, and Marwan Zalum. [Deputy Governor of Bethlehem] Taha greeted the Palestinian people and its Martyrs, and conveyed the greetings of Governor Abd Al-Fattah Hamayel who attaches special importance to the subject of the Shahids’ children. He praised the Shahids’ families for their resoluteness.”

[Al-Ayyam, Feb. 1, 2011]

Bethlehem summer camp was named after terrorist who murdered 37

Bethlehem named a summer camp after Dalal Mughrabi, who led the Coastal Road massacre in which 37 Israeli civilians, including 12 children, were murdered.

"At the headquarters of the ‘Light of the Generations’ youth association in Bethlehem, the second summer camp named after Martyr Dalal Mughrabi commenced… Present [at the opening] were... the Secretary of Fatah's Bethlehem branch, Yusuf Al-Aref." [Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 29, 2010]

Conclusion

When incitement to hate and glorification of terror enters the social fabric, terrorists are transformed into national heroes. Children in Bethlehem are being taught to see murderers as role models. They are taught that killing Israelis is heroic. These destructive messages are being implanted in their consciousness, by the activities and events, names of streets, and symbols that surround them - courtesy of the Bethlehem Municipality.

Having sister city relations with a city that actively promotes and glorifies terror places a major responsibility on the partnering city to use that relationship for positive impact. The sister cities of Bethlehem have a unique opportunity to influence Bethlehem.

It is the duty therefore of every sister city to demand change, and if Bethlehem’s terror promotion continues, the sister cities must sever the relationship. Continuing a formal partnership with a terror promoting entity makes each sister city part of the problem as they silently endorse Bethlehem’s terror promotion.

PMW is calling on all sister cities of Bethlehem to hold Bethlehem’s governor, mayor, and other officials responsible for the terror glorification they promote and enable. If Bethlehem does not eliminate its terror support, sister cities that decide to cancel their friendly ties with Bethlehem will be sending a strong message to the Municipality of Bethlehem and to the Palestinian Authority that the international community will not tolerate terror promotion or terror glorification.

Appendix

Abdallah Daoud headed the Palestinian intelligence service in Bethlehem, and was one of the terrorists who stormed into the Church of the Nativity in 2002, continuing to fight against Israel for several weeks while using the monks and the religious site as a shield. He was deported to Cyprus and later Mauritania, and died in Algeria of natural causes.

Abu Iyad (Salah Khalaf) - Founder of Fatah and head of the terrorist organization Black September. Attacks he planned included the murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics (Sept. 5, 1972) and the murder of two American diplomats in Sudan (March 1, 1973).

Abu Jihad (Khalil Al-Wazir) - Founder of Fatah and deputy to Yasser Arafat. He headed the PLO terror organization's military wing and planned many deadly Fatah terror attacks killing 125 Israelis. This included the most lethal in Israeli history, the hijacking of a bus and killing of 37 civilians, 12 of them children.

Ahmed Yassin - Founder and former head of the terrorist organization Hamas. The Hamas movement is responsible for numerous terror attacks and the deaths of hundreds of Israeli civilians.

Adnan Al-Afandi – was serving a 30-year prison term for the attempted murder of two young men in 1992. He was released in December 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.

Ahmad Sa’adat is serving 30 years for heading the terrorist group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He has also been honored in broadcasts on PA TV for having planned the assassination of Israeli Minister of Tourism, Rehavam Zeevi in 2001, but has not yet been brought to trial for that.

Ahmed Adel Sa’adeh – Transported Palestinian terrorist, 23-year-old Nael Abu Halil, who carried out a suicide attack on bus no. 20 in Jerusalem in which 12 Israelis were murdered and dozens injured on Nov. 21, 2002. Sa’adeh was sentenced to 12 life sentences.

Ahmed Al-Balboul – Commander of the military wing of Fatah in the southern part of Bethlehem district

Ali Alaan – Responsible for the murder of dozens of Israelis in a series of terror attacks, including one in Haifa in 2003 that killed 17 people, one at Pat Junction in Jerusalem in 2002 that killed 19, and one in Kiryat Menachem in Jerusalem, killing 12 (2001).

Amer Abu Sarhan was convicted of stabbing 3 Israelis to death in 1990.

Amjad Takatka - Palestinian terrorist who is serving 6 life sentences and another 20 years for his involvement in the suicide attack carried out by Andalib Takatka, who killed 6 and wounded more than 80 people in the suicide attack she carried out at Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda outdoor market on April 12, 2002.

Andalib Khalil Muhammad Suleiman – suicide bomber who killed six and wounded more than 80 in her attack on Jerusalem’s Mahaneh Yehuda outdoor market in April 2002.

Atef Abayat – Palestinian terrorist and Tanzim (Fatah terror faction) commander in Bethlehem who was accused of murdering Sarit Amrani in a shooting attack in the West Bank (Sept. 20, 2001). He was also accused of shooting at the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo. Abayat was killed in a car explosion about a month after the murder of Sarit Amrani.

Ayyat Al-Akhras - the youngest female Palestinian suicide bomber (age 17). She killed 2 Israelis and injured 28 in a suicide bombing near a Jerusalem supermarket on March 29, 2002. Israel transferred her body to the PA on Feb. 2, 2014.

Dalal Mughrabi led the most lethal terror attack in Israel’s history, known as the Coastal Road massacre, in 1978, when she and other Fatah terrorists hijacked a bus on Israel's Coastal Highway, killing 37 civilians, 12 of them children, and wounding over 70.

Daoud Abu Suway was a suicide bomber from the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization who blew himself up near the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem on Dec. 5, 2001. 8 people were wounded in the attack. Israel transferred his body to the PA on Feb. 2, 2014.

Hussein Abayat - Palestinian terrorist and commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in the West Bank. He was involved in shooting attacks against Israeli civilians and military in the Bethlehem area, including the murder of Sgt. Max Hazan and the injuring of border policeman Shimon Ohana. Abayat was killed in November 2000 when he was hit by a rocket fired by an IDF helicopter.

Hussein Obeidat – Senior Tanzim (Fatah terror group) activist. Involved in a long series of shooting attacks on the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem, on the Israeli army position at Shdema, on the Tunnels Road, and on the DCO in Beit Jala.

Jihad Al-Ja’afari (“Gaddafi”) - 19-year-old Palestinian who threw a Molotov cocktail and was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers in the Deheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem on Feb. 24, 2015.

Israa Ja’abis – 31-year-old female Palestinian terrorist, resident of East Jerusalem, who carried out a car bomb attack near Ma’ale Adumim, a few kilometers east of Jerusalem, on Oct. 11, 2015. A policeman who noticed a suspicious vehicle signaled for the driver to stop, after which she drove closer to a group of police officers and detonated a gas balloon. One policeman suffered light injuries and Ja’abis was seriously injured.

Issa Abd Rabbo – was serving two life sentences for killing two Israeli university students, Ron Levi and Revital Seri, who were hiking south of Jerusalem on Oct. 22, 1984. At gun point he tied them up, put bags over their heads and then shot and murdered both. He was released in October 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.

Jamal Nawawreh - Commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades. Was killed in 2018.

Jawad Jawarish - Palestinian terrorist serving a life sentence for involvement in a shooting attack in the West Bank on March 5, 2002, in which Israeli civilian Devorah Friedman was murdered.

Karim Younes - an Israeli Arab prisoner who killed an Israeli soldier in 1980 and was given a life sentence in prison. He is considered the most veteran of the prisoners, since more than 30 years have passed since his arrest.

Khaled Al-Azraq - placed an explosive device in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda open market on May 28, 1990. The bomb killed 71 year-old Shimon Cohen and injured 9. Al-Azraq was serving a life sentence in prison, but was released in October 2013 as one of the 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.

Khaled Asakra – a Fatah member who murdered 64 year-old French tourist Annie Ley (April 29, 1991). He was sentenced to life in prison but was released in August 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.

Mahmoud Al-Ramahi is a Hamas- affiliated Palestinian MP. He was arrested in November 2010 and released in July 2012.

Mahmoud and Nasser Abu Sorour – Palestinian terrorists who participated in planning and carrying out the assassination of Israeli security agent Haim Nachmani on Jan. 3, 1993, in Jerusalem. Each is serving a life sentence.

Mamoun Ra'ed Muhammad Al-Khatib - 16-year-old Palestinian terrorist who tried to stab an Israeli civilian at the Gush Etzion Junction on Dec.1, 2015. Israeli soldiers at the scene shot and killed Al-Khatib.

Marwan Barghouti is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison for orchestrating suicide terror attacks against Israeli civilians. After he was convicted and imprisoned, he was re- elected member of the Palestinian Authority parliament. When he was arrested in 2002 he was the head of Fatah's military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.

Marwan Zalum – Commander in the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and senior member of Tanzim (Fatah terror group). He was responsible for several terror attacks in the Hebron region, including the murder of an infant in 2001. In 2002, Zalum drove a suicide terrorist to Jaffa Street in Jerusalem to carry out a terror attack, killing six.

Muhannad Halabi - 19-year-old Palestinian terrorist who killed 2 Israelis, Rabbi Nehemiah Lavi and Aharon Bennett, and injured Bennett’s wife and 2-year-old son in a stabbing attack in the Old City of Jerusalem on Oct. 3, 2015. Following the attack, he was shot and killed by Israeli security forces.

Raafat Jawabreh – Palestinian terrorist and one of the commanders of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades (Fatah’s military wing) in Bethlehem during the PA terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005). Jawabreh directed numerous terrorist attacks, including a bombing

and shooting attack at a supermarket in Efrat, south of Bethlehem, on Feb. 22, 2002, in which 1 Israeli was wounded. Jawabreh was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment in 2002, and was released in December 2017.

Raed Abayat – Palestinian terrorist, a member of the Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades terror organization, who murdered 15-year-old Israeli Avi Boaz on Jan. 15, 2002 in a drive-by shooting east of Bethlehem. Abayat and fellow terrorists also ambushed and shot and killed Israeli police officer Moshe Dayan on March 2, 2002 while he was riding a motorcycle near Bethlehem. Abayat was killed in an exchange of gunfire with Israeli soldiers on April 3, 2006.

Rizq Salah - killed Israeli soldier Guy Friedman and injured two others with a bomb in Bethlehem in 1990. He was arrested in 1993 and was sentenced to life in prison, but was released in October 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.

Saad Nawawreh – senior member of Tanzim (Fatah terror faction) who was arrested in 2002 for planning several shooting and bombing attacks. He was released in November 2013 after he finished serving his prison term.

Thaer Hasan – Commander of the Jerusalem Brigades of the Islamic Jihad terrorist group in the southern part of the West Bank.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades has been declared a terrorist organization by Israel, the US, Canada, the EU, and Japan.

The Cemeteries for Enemy Casualties are two burial sites maintained by the Israeli army for burying the bodies of enemy soldiers as well as terrorists. They are fenced and well- marked. Graves have markers instead of gravestones. Burial is temporary, on the assumption that the bodies will eventually be returned to their countries of origin. No ceremony is held. The bodies are buried in numbered caskets after their identities are documented.

Yasser Rabai’ah - Palestinian terrorist and a member of the Tanzim (Fatah terror faction) who participated in a drive-by shooting near Maale Adumim in which Greek Orthodox monk Gur Pzipokatsatakis was murdered on June 12, 2002. Rabai’ah was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Terrorists whose families were honored at the Abu Jihad and Loyalty to the Bethlehem District Prisoners Championship

Adnan Abayat - Palestinian terrorist and head of the Tanzim (Fatah terror faction) in Bethlehem who was responsible for a number of attacks in which 8 Israelis were murdered. Abayat was arrested by Israel on Aug. 24, 2004 and is serving multiple life sentences. PMW was unable to confirm the number of life sentences.

Ahmad Salah - terrorist who is serving 21 life sentences for involvement in the two suicide bombings mentioned above.

Ali Abu Hleil - Palestinian terrorist involved in two suicide bombings on buses in Jerusalem - one on Gaza Street on Jan. 29, 2004, in which 11 were murdered, and one on Emek Refaim Street on Feb. 22, 2004, in which 8 were murdered. Over 100 people were injured in the two bombings. Abu Hleil is serving 21 life sentences.

Ashraf Hajajreh - Palestinian terrorist who drove suicide bomber Muhammad Al-Shouani to Jerusalem's Beit Israel neighborhood where Al-Shouani carried out a suicide attack on March 2, 2002, murdering 11 people. Hajajreh is serving 12 life sentences.

Hamza Omar Shamarkha - Palestinian terrorist who sent suicide bomber Andalib Takatka to carry out an attack at Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda outdoor market on April 12, 2002, in which 6 were murdered, and more than 80 wounded. Shamarkha is serving 6 life sentences and an additional 20 years.

Ibrahim Sarahneh, Musa Sarahneh, and Khalil Sarahneh - Israeli Arab terrorists who drove three suicide bombers to attacks in Israel in which 5 were murdered. Together with his wife, Irena Sarahneh, Ibrahim Sarahneh drove a suicide bomber to carry out an attack in which 2 were murdered and dozens injured in Rishon LeZion on May 22, 2002; with his brother, Musa Sarahneh, he drove suicide bomber Ayyat Al-Akhras to carry out an attack in which 2 were murdered and 28 wounded in Jerusalem on March 29, 2002; and with another brother, Khalil Sarahneh, he drove a suicide bomber to carry out an attack in which 1 was murdered in Jerusalem on April 1, 2002. Ibrahim Sarahneh is serving 6 life sentences; Khalil Sarahneh is serving 1 life sentence and 20 additional years; and Musa Sarahneh is serving 1 life sentence.

Mahmoud Abayat - Palestinian terrorist and member of the Tanzim (Fatah terror faction) involved in four shooting attacks in the West Bank from 2000-2001, in which 5 Israeli security force members were murdered. Abayat is serving 6 life sentences.

Mahmoud Abu Sorour - Palestinian terrorist who participated in planning and carrying out the assassination of Israeli security agent Haim Nachmani on Jan. 3, 1993, in Jerusalem. Abu Sorour is serving a life sentence.

Mahmoud Salem Sarahneh - Palestinian terrorist who sent four suicide bombers to carry out three attacks in Jerusalem in 2002 in which 14 were murdered, and one in Rishon Lezion in which 2 were murdered. Jerusalem attacks: in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood on March 2, 2002, 11 murdered; in the Kiryat HaYovel neighborhood on March 29, 2002, 2 murdered; and on Neviim Street on April 1, 2002, 1 murdered. Rishon Lezion attack: May 22, 2002, 2 murdered. Sarahneh is serving 17 life sentences.

Muhammad Al-Badan - Palestinian terrorist who carried out a stabbing attack in the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem on Oct. 23, 2008, murdering 86-year-old Avraham Ozeri and injuring a police officer. Al-Badan is serving 1 life sentence and an additional 14 years.

Muhammad Al-Tous - Palestinian terrorist and Fatah member who was the commander of a terrorist cell that attacked 5 civilian buses in September 1985, wounding 16 passengers. He also issued the command to murder Zalman Abolnik in March 1984, and Meir Ben Yair

and Michal Cohen in July 1985, and took part in the murder of Mordechai Suissa and Edna Harari in October 1985. Al-Tous is serving 1 life sentence.

Riyad Al-Amour - Palestinian terrorist and member of a Tanzim (Fatah terror faction) cell responsible for the murder of 9 Israelis - 5 soldiers and 4 civilians - in shooting attacks between October 2000 and March 2003, and for the murder of 3 Palestinians they suspected of collaborating with Israel. Al-Amour is serving 11 life sentences.