Special Report - June 24, 2005
US Funding in the Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas
Violates 2005 Foreign Operations Bill:
Recipients support, legitimize and honor terrorists
By Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook
Executive Summary
US law prohibits the funding of any governmental structure, institution, organization or company that sponsors or promotes terrorism.
Governmental and non-governmental organizations in the Palestinian Authority (PA) continue to receive hundreds of millions of dollars from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), some of which is going directly to frameworks that sponsor branches of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations, and to others that glorify terrorists and terrorism, delegitimize Israel's existence and promote hatred of the American people, government and values.
This report documents these violations of US law.
Table of Contents
1.A. PA Legitimizing Terror and Honoring Terrorists
1.B. Frameworks Supporting and Honoring Terrorists
3. Palestinian Authority Promotion of Hatred of America
Supporting, Legitimizing and Honoring Terrorists
The presentation of terrorism as legitimate "resistance," together with the honoring of terrorists, both past and present, was a cornerstone of Palestinian Authority (PA) ideology and society during the Arafat era. It continues today under the administration of Mahmoud Abbas.
All Palestinian universities continue to host branches of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, yet receive millions of dollars in US aid. Numerous suicide terrorists have come from these universities.
Sport remains a prime means of glorifying terror and honoring terrorists. Sporting events, teams and arenas for adults and children continue to be named in honor of terrorists.
Street names have been changed to names of terrorists by municipalities, including those where USAID funding has sponsored municipal road works and continues to fund other infrastructure activities.
International Women's Day, in March 2005, saw repeated PA promotion of the ideal Palestinian woman as one who joyously sends her sons to die as Shahids - Martyrs who die for Allah.
Israel's existence continues to be presented as illegitimate. In February 2005, a salaried PA cleric on PA TV promised Israel's destruction through conquest, after a diplomatic process that would return Israel to the 1967 borders. In May the same cleric preached that Islam would conquer the US and other Christian countries while exterminating all Jews. Musical broadcasts involving children likewise continue to preach delegitimization of Israel and violence for children: "Though [conquering all of Jerusalem] is my dream, I can achieve it with my blood," says a child in a special program broadcast more than 15 times this past year, including twice in May 2005.
Current US funding of the PA is in violation of US Law
Funding of the Palestinian Authority, its municipalities and its universities is in violation of the 2005 Foreign Operations Bill (SEC. 559.b-c) which prohibits money for any "individual, private or government entity, or educational institution that the Secretary knows or has reason to believe advocates, plans, sponsors, engages in, or has engaged in, terrorist activity..." In such a case, the Secretary "shall terminate assistance to any individual, entity, or educational institution which he has determined to be involved in or advocating terrorist activity. (c)... None of the funds ... may be made available for the purpose of recognizing or otherwise honoring individuals who commit, or have committed, acts of terrorism." (See Appendix for full text)
Congress enacted these amendments after a 2004 Palestinian Media Watch report documented the widespread use of sport and other social and educational infrastructures to honor terrorists and thereby promote terrorism. The objective of Congress was to prevent US money from going to any of these frameworks, so that US foreign aid would promote and support a healthy and non-violent PA society.
Today, US money continues to be used to directly and indirectly promote and honor terrorists. Under the leadership of Abbas, the PA continues to sustain many of the infrastructures that promote terror, and to fund PA ministries that actively support terror and honor terrorists.
For example, the PA sponsors sporting events that honor terrorists. A February 2005 marathon, sponsored by Chairman Mahmoud Abbas himself, was won by a 14-year-old from the "Shahid Salah Khalaf Center." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, February 7, 2005] A Shahid is a 'Martyr of Allah' and, according to Palestinian Authority terminology, includes suicide bombers.
Salah Khalaf - or "Abu Iyad" - was the head of the "Black September" terrorist organization responsible for killing 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics and two American diplomats in Sudan a year later. Supporting an infrastructure that honors terrorists is a violation of US law.
In May 2005, the PA Table Tennis Union sponsored a table tennis tournament honoring two heads of the Hamas terror organization, responsible for hundreds of deaths of Israelis and Americans.
US money continues to promote and honor terrorists directly and indirectly, through the funding of PA municipalities that use their budgets to honor terrorists. For example, Gaza has renamed 300 streets after Shahids, including a street named for former Hamas leader Ahmad Yassin. The city of Khan Yunis spent significant money to change "300 metal street signs ... most of them to names of Shahids..." and named "the most important street in the city after the Shahid Ahmad Yassin." (References below).
1.A. Legitimizing Terror and Honoring Terrorists
1.A.1. Reaction to the suicide terror attack of February 25, 2005:
Palestinian terror continues to be presented as legitimate. Although PA leaders condemn terrorist attacks in the Western media and diplomatic circles, the suicide terrorist who killed five Israelis at a Tel Aviv nightclub in February 2005 - as well as every terrorist killed by Israeli security forces and every suicide bomber up until publication of this report - are labeled in the PA Arabic-language newspapers as Shahids - Martyrs for Allah. By granting Shahid status to murderers, the PA media, including the PA-owned Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, are portraying even suicide terrorism as a positive religious act - the supreme Islamic achievement. Rather than condemned for being an act of murder, the February suicide terror attack was criticized as "poorly timed," "unnecessary" and damaging to the PA. The relationship between terror and the political process is defined as "sowing and harvesting."
1.A.1.1. The suicide terrorist was honored in all the PA dailies
"The executor of the Tel Aviv operation, the Shahid Abdullah Badran."
[Front-page caption in official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, February 27, 2005 under large color photo of the terrorist.]
"The family of the Shahid..." [Al-Ayyam, February 27, 2005]
"The family of the Shahid Abdullah..."
"…the Shahid's two brothers…"
"…mourning tent in memory of the Shahid."[Al-Quds, February 27, 2005]
1.A.1.2. The timing and political damage was condemned
Hassan Asfour, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council:
"This is the first action that no one is happy about. Everyone felt that the timing was not [right] and there was absolutely no need for it... It is not because the resistance [the PA term for terror] against the occupation is a mistake, but because the nature, location and timing of the action are a mistake."
[PA TV, February 28, 2005]
"Presidential advisor Nabil Abu Rudaynah [said the PA] condemns this operation, especially coming after the Hudna [temporary cease fire] and the calming, which were achieved with the [terrorist] factions... The Authority opposes any action that targets civilians. This is a part of the Hudna, which was declared in Sharm Al-Sheik. We oppose any violation of this Hudna. He also clarified that this sort of action harms the supreme national interests of the Palestinian people."[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, February 26, 2005]
1.A.2. Terror bad because of the "balance of power"
Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Palestinian Authority:
"We announced a ceasefire. In its essence, the Intifada was an intifada of peace and popular. When it moved to shooting it caused us great damage and grievous tragedies. The balance of power is not equal and therefore we have no choice but to stop it." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, February 17, 2005]
1.A.3. 'Warrior Rest': Period of calm is to build up power for the future
"They [Hamas, Islamic Jihad, etc.] responded to the language of reason, and accepted the call for a "period of calm" by the President Mahmoud Abbas... They understood the need of time for the warrior rest. Our brothers, a warrior needs a rest... when the Prophet, rest his soul, fought his enemies, he did not invade twice in one year. The first year he invaded Bader, the second he invaded Hajra... Our interest requires that we reserve our blood and weapons so that we can cope with what is greater."
[Senior PA salaried religious leader, Ibrahim Mudayris, PA TV, February 11, 2005]
1.A.4. Samir Mash'harwi, Fatah Central Committee: "Rest of the fighters"
"Where do we and the factions (Hamas, etc) disagree?
"Regarding how to reach [the Palestinian goal]. Will we reach it through resistance [that is, terrorism] and resistance alone, or through resistance with all forms of Palestinian struggle: diplomatic activity, popular intifada, armed resistance, achieving international support in the international arena?
"We in Fatah say we have to include it all - and to choose the appropriate time for the rifle and the appropriate time for negotiations... We see this period of negotiations as the 'rest of the fighters.'" [PA TV, January 10, 2005]
1.A.5. The High Commissioner of National Education:
"We expect to utilize all that we have sowed and sacrificed [and expect] that the political leadership, headed by our brother Abu Mazen, will succeed to begin the harvesting process..." [PA TV February 11, 2005]
1.B. Frameworks Supporting Terror and Honoring Terrorists
1.B.1. PA Ministry of Education and Higher Learning - Active university-sponsored terrorist branches on campus
The PA Ministry of Education and Higher Learning actively funds terrorism, as every university in the Palestinian Authority has a branch of Hamas and Islamic Jihad - both of which are on the US list of terror organizations. The Hamas and Islamic Jihad student branches at the PA universities have historically been a breeding ground for terrorists, as campus structures are used to promote murder and terror, and to recruit and plan terrorist activities. Numerous terrorists, including suicide terrorists, have been recruited from these university terror organizations. The 21-year-old woman terrorist caught on June 20, 2005 with 15 pounds of explosives hidden in her underwear - on her way to a planned terror attack at an Israeli hospital - was a student at Al-Quds Open University.
1.B.1.1. The following are examples from the PA media, documenting the existence of terrorist organizations in PA universities and various activities:
1.B.1.1.1. Al-Najah University
"Al-Kutlah Al-Islamiyah ['The Islamic Bloc,' Hamas' student organization] in the Faculty of Technology of Al-Najah National University yesterday organized the 'Bridge of the Shahids' exhibition... The exhibition was opened by the Faculty Dean, Dr. Samir Mayalah, and some lecturers and a representative of the Islamic Bloc [i.e. Hamas]. The exhibition is a part of the activities marking Shahids' Week." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 29, 2005]
"Al-Kutlah Al-Islamiyah [of Hamas] of Al-Najah National University organized a mass assembly in which a member of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement, "Hamas," in Nablus, Mahmoud Ghazal ... said: 'The movement shall not forget the great Shahids and the great leaders of the Palestinian nation, and foremost the Shahid, the Imam Ahmad Yassin, the Shahid Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rantisi..." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 10, 2005]
A month after 15 Israelis were murdered in the August 2001 Sbarro Pizzeria bomb, Al-Kutlah Al-Islamiyah [Hamas] at the Al-Najah University created a horrific celebration, by building a mock Sbarro pizza shop and decorating the walls and tables with images of pizza and body parts.
In spite of this open sponsorship of Hamas on campus and the active Hamas branch, Al-Najah University is a recipient of USAID funding. See Section 2.1 below.
1.B.1.1.2. Al-Quds Open University
"In Hebron an assembly was organized yesterday, marking the first anniversary of the assassination of the Islamic Resistance Movement - "Hamas" - founder, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, and of its leader, Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rantisi. The assembly was organized by Al-Kutlah Al-Islamiyah [of Hamas] in the Al-Quds Open University... Taysir Abu Sakur, on behalf of the university's administration ... recalled the Shahids of our people..." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, 22/03/05]
"During a symposium organized by the Al-Quds Open University in northern Gaza, ... a member of the political bureau of the Popular Front [for the Liberation of Palestine] said, 'Our duty is to turn the election procedure into a campaign against the Occupation and the American plan... The United States is interested in turning the elections to its favor, and interested in reorganizing our people and institutions so it would fit the United States plans'." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 20, 2005. It should be noted that in the language of the terrorist groups and the Palestinian Authority, the term 'the Occupation' refers to all of Israel, and not just the territories.]
In spite of this active terrorist branch, Al-Quds Open University is a recipient of USAID funding. See Section 2.1 below.
1.B.1.1.3. Al-Azhar University
"The council of students' union at Al-Azhar University and the Fatah Al-Shabiba Organization held a students' mass meeting yesterday, under the title 'Oath and Loyalty to the Shahids,' marking the anniversary of the death as a Shahid of the Prince of the Shahids, Khalil Al-Wazir "Abu Jihad..." The Gaza Al-Azhar University President, Dr. Hani Najem, emphasized in his speech that our people will continue to be loyal to the blood of our Shahids...
"Head of the Fatah Al-Shabiba Organization, Abd Al-Hakim Awd, described Al-Azhar University as the University of the Shahids." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 20, 2005]
In spite of this active terrorist branch, Al-Azhar University is a recipient of USAID funding. See Section 2.1 below.
1.B.1.1.4. Arab-American University
"Al-Kutlah Al-Islamiyah [of Hamas] of the Arab-American University in Jenin..." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 1, 2005]
Headline: "An assembly of the parties running for elections of the student council at the Arab-American University..."
"These are the parties: The Islamic Loyalty Bloc, a coalition of Al-Kutlah Al-Islamiyah and Al-Jamaa' Al-Islamiyah [Islamic Jihad]; the Al-Aqsa Shahids Bloc, representing the Al-Shabibah Student Movement [of Fatah]; the Unity Students Bloc [of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine]; [and] the Shahid Abu Ali Mustafa Bloc [of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine]."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 15, 2005]
In spite of these active terrorist Hamas and Islamic Jihad branches, the American University is a recipient of USAID funding. See Section 2.1 below.
1.B.1.1.5. Islamic University
"Al-Kutlah Al-Islamiyah [of Hamas] won the elections for the male student council and for the female student council at the Islamic University."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 15, 2005]
"The senior [leader] in the Hamas, Sheik Isma'il Hania, spoke in front of thousands of students ... in the Islamic University in Gaza ... [saying] 'the American and Zionist attempts will not succeed in dismantling the Resistance of its weapon. The Resistance will not desert its weapon and will not hand it to anyone, because it is the weapon of Jihad, resistance, honor, nobility and a wing to hit the [Zionist] lie and defend the people". [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 4, 2005]
In spite of this open support of terrorists on campus and the active Hamas branch, the Islamic University is a recipient of USAID funding. See Section 2.1 below.
1.B.4.1.6. Bethlehem University
"The Unity Students Bloc at Bethlehem University ... [is] commemorating the 36th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine..."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 1, 2005]
In spite of this open support of terrorists on campus and the active terrorist branch, Bethlehem University is a recipient of USAID funding. See Section 2.1 below.
1.B.1.1.7. Bir Zeit University
"The Minister of Negotiations Dr. Sa'eb Erekat ... said in Bir Zeit University, 'Israel was a functional state from the beginning, and was established for the sake of defending Western interests... Bush has appointed himself as being responsible for and a negotiator on behalf of the Palestinians, as he approved his unilateral separation plan on April 15th last year, but no one can negotiate on our behalf."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, February 7, 2005]
In spite of this open support of terrorists on campus and the active Hamas branch - Bir Zeit University is a recipient of USAID funding. See Section 2.1 below.
1.B.1.1.8. Hebron University
"...The university decided to grant scholarships named for the journalist Mazen Da'na." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 4, 2005. Mazen Da'na was a TV cameraman shot by American forces in Iraq on August 17, 2003, as his camera was suspected of being a grenade launcher].
In spite of this open support of terrorists on campus and the active Hamas branch, Hebron University is a recipient of USAID funding. See Section 2.1 below.
1.B.1.2. Terrorists who have come directly from PA university activity include:
Mahmoud Shuraytakh: Chairman of Al-Kutlah Al-Islamiyah of Hamas and of the Student Council at Bir Zeit University. Planned a suicide attack on a bus in Tel Aviv September 19, 2002, in which six Israelis were murdered and 71 injured.
Ihab Abdul Qadir Mahmoud Abu Salim: Arab Language student and a member of Al-Kutlah Al-Islamiyah at Bir Zeit University. Carried out a suicide attack at Zerifin September 9, 2003, in which eight Israelis were murdered and about 20 injured.
Daya Muhammad Hussein Al-Tawil: Engineering student at Bir Zeit University and a member of Al-Kutlah Al-Islamiyah. Carried out a suicide attack at the French Hill junction in Jerusalem March 27, 2001, in which 29 Israelis were injured.
Ramiz Ubaid: Student and a member of Al-Jama'a Al-Islamiyah (Islamic Jihad) at Bir Zeit University. Carried out a suicide attack at Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv March 3, 1996, in which 13 Israelis were murdered and 118 injured.
Hamid Abu Hajlah: Engineering student and a member of Al-Kutlah Al-Islamiyah at Al-Najah University. Carried out a suicide attack in Netanya on January 1, 2001, in which three Israelis were injured.
Ramiz Abu Salim: Hamas activist and a student at Al-Quds Open University branch in Al-Birah. Carried out a suicide attack at Cafe Hillel in Jerusalem September 9, 2003, in which seven Israelis were murdered and about 20 injured.
Muhammad Al-Rul: Hamas activist and a student at Al-Najah University. Carried out a suicide attack in Jerusalem June 18, 2002, in which 19 Israelis were murdered and 42 injured.
1.B.1.3. PA Deceives USAID regarding renaming of schools
In addition, many schools are named for terrorists - celebrating them as role models and heroes for children. In the lead-up to the recent PA municipal elections, the December 14, 2004 Al-Hayat Al-Jadida published a list of ballot box locations, which included 34 schools named for Shahids and/or terrorists.
One significant mention was the Dalal Al-Mughrabi High School for Girls, in the Shuyukh district, near Hebron. Al-Mughrabi was a woman terrorist who killed 36 people, including American nature photographer Gail Rubin in 1978.
In August 2002, Palestinian Media Watch reported that USAID was funding renovations in this school. The State Department immediately froze the funding to the school, conditioning a return of the funding to having the school's name changed. Larry Garber, then-USAID Mission Director in the West Bank and Gaza, told Reuters at the time that it was of "critical importance" that US funds were not associated with projects that glorify "terrorism or other forms of violence." The school promised USAID officials that it had changed the name and USAID was quick to reinstate the funding, which had been frozen for only 24 hours. Philip Davies, Vice-President of the subcontracting NGO, ANERA, told The Jerusalem Post, "They changed the name back. So there's no issue any more."
However, this appeared in a recent list of polling stations:
"...the Dalal Al-Mughrabi High School for Girls, in the election area of the Shuyukh in the Hebron district."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, December 14, 2004]
It is clear that USAID was deceived, or failed to follow up on the issue. Either the PA never changed the name, or waited just long enough to receive US money, then reverted to the name of the notorious female terrorist.
This lack of follow-up applies to other USAID-funded projects. In June 2004, a Palestinian Media Watch report on loopholes in US foreign aid revealed that some $410,000 in American aid had helped finance the Salah Khalaf Recreation and Sports Center near Nablus. Salah Khalaf, also known as Abu Iyad, was leader of the Palestinian Black September terror organization that was responsible for the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics and the killing of two US diplomats in Sudan the following year. Various references in honor of Salah Khalaf by the Palestinian Authority have been already been listed in this report.
Following the publication of the Palestinian Media Watch report, members of the US Congress acted immediately to tighten US foreign aid regulations. USAID's Garber said the agency would demand that the name of the stadium be changed. "We are having a dialogue with the appropriate Palestinian officials on the subject," Garber told The Washington Times in June last year. However, Palestinian Media Watch has recently contacted the local municipality, and was informed that the stadium is still named after the terrorist Salah Khalaf.
1.B.2. Naming Sporting Events and Teams for Terrorists - 2005
The following are examples of the continued use of sporting events in 2005 to honor and create role models of terrorists. These sports infrastructures are funded by the PA Ministry of Youth and Sport from the general PA budget.
"The tournament ... for 17-year-old boys takes place at the Shahid Sa'ed Sa'el Hall. The tournament is organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports... [The teams:] The Shahid Salah Khalaf team, the Shahid Nabil Qablan team and the Shahid Atif Bsiso team." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 25, 2005. Salah Khalef "Abu Iyad" (1930-1991) was a founder of the Fatah terrorist organization and head of the "Black September" terrorist organization. Responsible for killing 11 Israeli Olympic and two American diplomats. Ataf Bsiso was Abu Iyad's deputy. He was killed in Paris in 1992. Sa'ed Sa'el (1931-1982) was a senior Fatah man, Chief-of-Staff of the Palestinian-Lebanese terrorist forces and Director of the PLO Anti-IDF operation center until 1982.]
"Al-Fallah Sports Center ... announced that it will hold a table-tennis tournament early next week ... [including the teams:] "The return" mosque team (Al-Auda) and the Shahid Imad Aqel team." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 27, 2005. Imed Aqel was a senior Hamas terrorist before being killed by Israeli forces.]
"The Shahid Khaled Abu Salmia Memorial Football Tournament, ... under the supervision of the Palestinian Football Association..." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 16, 2005. Khaled Abu Salmia was the field commander of the Hamas' Izz Al-Din Al-Kassam Brigades.]
"The team trained at the Shahid Salah Khalaf [Abu Iyad] Center..." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 25, 2005]
"The Shahid Salah Khalaf Cultural Center, in cooperation with the Shahid Rafik Al-Islami Hall, under the sponsorship of Amin Al-Hindi, the commander of the general intelligence, have organized a football tournament ... in memory of the anniversary of the Shahada death of the three leaders, the Shahid Ha'el Abd Al-Hamid, the Shahid Fakhri Al-Umri, and the Shahid Salah Khalaf [Abu Iyad]. The tournament took place at the Shahid Sa'ed Sa'el Hall..." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 17, 2005. Ha'el Abd Al-Hamid "Abu Al-Hul" was a founder of the Fatah terror organization, Sa'ed Sa'el was a senior Fatah terrorist.]
"The Tulkarem Culture [Club] junior team ... won the tournament cup... The tournament was organized by the Al-Quds Open University. The participating teams: the Al-Quds Open University team, ... [and] the Shahid Fadi Bahti team..." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 17, 2005. Fadi Bassam Mahmoud Bahti was an Islamic Jihad leader in Nablus. He was an explosives expert, in charge of a bomb-building lab and was responsible for sending suicide terrorists to Israel.]
"The marathon, organized by the National Association of Shahids' Families of Palestine, under the supervision of the Palestinian Athletics Association and sponsored by the President of the Palestinian Authority "Abu Mazen" Mahmoud Abbas, has ended. It was held in honor of his victory in the presidential elections... The three kilometer race for children under 14 years of age was won by Mahmoud Abu Kwik from the Shahid Salah Khalaf center..." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, February 7, 2005]
Ahmed Al-Kidwa, chairman of the Palestinian Olympic committee:
"When we joined the Fatah movement, we joined as potential Shahids. Many of our brothers died as Shahids during our struggle." He emphasized, "The main aim is to reach one of the two positive goals: victory or Shahada. The person, who arrived as a potential Shahid, may not cease before he reaches one of these positive goals: either Shahada and joining his brothers who preceded him, or achieving the full victory which we desire for our nation." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 17, 2005]
1.B.2. Naming Streets for Terrorists
"Gaza City Council decided to name one of the streets in city after the Shahid, the distinguished Sheik [and former Hamas Leader] Ahmad Yassin, in perpetuation and cherishing of his struggle and sacrifice. The council Spokesmen, Nassar Al-Suiwair ... said that since it began its term ten years ago, the city council has named over three hundred streets after a large group of Arab and Palestinian Shahids...
"The city council announced that the American Agency for Development has decided to grant the city council three hundred and eighty thousand dollars, as a part of the 'Cash Transfer' program, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Local Government, to cover some of the cost of repairing the damages in the water and sewage systems in the Al-Zaitun neighborhood." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 24, 2004]
1.B.2.2. Khan Yunis
"Yesterday, the city council of Khan Yunis began a campaign to name streets after Shahids and historical cities…
"Mayor Dr. Osama Al-Farah: "The city council will work ... to name the most important street in the city after [the former Hamas Leader,] theShahid Ahmad Yassin…
"In addition [streets will be named for]... Haifa and Acco."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 31, 2004]
"The mayor of Khan-Yunis, Dr. Osama Al-Farah, said yesterday that the council crews finished the project of naming the city streets during which some 300 metal signs were put on many streets. Most of [the streets] carry the names of Shahids, commanders and Palestinian cities, which were conquered by the Israeli Army during the period of 1948-1967.
"Al-Farah clarified that the city council initiated the project of changing the street names ... in light of the importance of these names in affixing great historical events in the hearts and minds of the people, particularly among the younger generation, in order to engrave the Israeli crimes, which led to the robbery of our cities and villages, in their memory..." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, June 28, 2004]
"Yesterday the Khan Yunis City Council named a main street after the Shahid Amer Abu Sitta, the chief commander of the Ahmad Abu Al-Rish Brigades...
"The city council agreed to name the street leading from the Shahid Ahmad Yassin Street to the Shahid Cemetery Street in the south, after the Shahid Abu Sitta, in light of the Council's belief in the importance of these names in affixing great historical events in the hearts and minds of the people, particularly among the younger generation..." [Al-Ayyam, August 10, 2004. Amer Abu Sitta murdered Israeli citizen Uri Magidish in a terrorist attack in the early '90s. As the commander of the Abu Rish Brigades, Abu Sitta was responsible for many terrorist attacks. The terrorist attack against the American diplomatic convoy in October 2003 was related to the Abu Rish Brigades.]
1.B.3. PA officials and PA TV - March 2005
Glorifying mothers who send sons to Shahada, or death for Allah
Background: Al Khansah archetypal mother of warrior
and Shahids - The ideal Palestinian Woman
Al-Khansah was a poet in the early Islamic period. Before her conversion to Islam, her brothers died, and she grieved. Islamic historian Ibn Athir writes that after she converted to Islam, she encouraged her four sons to go into battle for Allah. When all four were killed, she wrote a poem of joy - rejoicing that Allah had honored her with the deaths of her sons.
Al-Khansah is considered the archetypal mother of Shahids, a woman honored by Islam for encouraging her sons to kill and die for Allah, and rejoicing when they achieved their Shahada deaths.
Al-Khansah and the Palestinian Authority
From a very young age, Palestinian girls are taught to adopt Al-Khansah as a role model for her message of celebrating death in combat of Shahids. The Palestinian Authority has named at least five girls' schools "the Al-Khansah School for Girls," in:
Bethlehem;
Jenin;
Nablus;
Khan Yunis; and
Rafah
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 9, 2005]
A music video for children, broadcast hundreds of times over three years on PA TV, included the farewell letter of a child Shahid, including the words: "Mother don't cry for me, be joyous over my blood."
The following are the transcripts of these portrayals of the ideal Palestinian woman as one who celebrates her son's death.
1.B.3.1. Friday TV sermon, Sheik Yusuf Juma' Salamah, Minister of the Waqf, in the presence of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and other senior PA members
"Al-Khansah, this noble woman... The day she lost her brother Sakher [before she adopted Islam] she began crying, shouting and feeling pain. She recited poetry: "The sunrise reminds me of Sakher, and I remember him with every sunset, and had there not been around me all the mourners for their brothers, I would have killed myself". This was during the Jahiliya [the pre-Islamic period]. When Allah filled her heart with love for Islam, and it became full of faith, things changed. She sent her four sons, her offspring, to battle, to Qadisiya [near Iraq] as a service to this religion. When she was notified that they had become Shahids, she said, 'Praise Allah, who granted me honor with their deaths. I pray that he will take me to them at the place where His mercy dwells.' This is the great woman. This is the noble woman. Have you seen how Islam changed her behavior, her virtues, and her poetry?" [Official Friday sermon, PA TV, March 11, 2005]
1.B.3.2. Educational TV program "My knowledge, your knowledge"
A young child asks his father: "My father, my father, who is this woman?"
Father: "This is the poet Tumarid, who is known by name Al-Khansah. She was one of the prettiest women of her time..."
Female host: "When [before she adopted Islam] her brother Mu'awiya died, and after that her brother on her father's side, Sakher, she became extremely mournful because of them."
Al-Khansah: "I was extremely saddened for Sakher, until my eyes became blind. In the Qadisiya battle, four sons of mine became Shahids."
Father: "When she was told of her four sons' deaths, she pleaded to the Creator, to him be the glory and power, and said, "Praise Allah, who granted me honor with their deaths."
[PA TV, March 13, 2005]
1.B.3.3. The Dean of Al-Aqsa University Faculty of Media, Dr Hussein Abu Shanab [on behalf of the University's Dean]:
"The Palestinian woman - our hearts are full of respect and admiration for her, as she is a unique woman for several reasons: she is the Shahid's mother; and she is the one who shouts for joy on the Day of the Shahid and she is the one who shouts for joy, while her son is a prisoner, and she is the one who shouts for joy, when her son is arrested..." [PA TV, March 10, 2005]
1.B.5. PA Ministry of Health
Even the PA Ministry of Health, which is a recipient of USAID money, has hospitals named for Shahids, including the Shahid Kamal Adwan Hospital. Adwan was one of the commanders of "Black September," which was responsible for the murders of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics, as well as the murders of two American diplomats in Sudan.
USAID in the past funded the Shahid Kamal Adwan Hospital directly. [Al-Ayyam, February 18, 2004].
USAID funds numerous projects of the PA Ministry of Health, which by definition is honoring terrorists by having hospitals named for terrorists, and should therefore not be eligible for US foreign aid.
1.B.6. PA Ministry of Finance
"The Association of the Palestinian Youth [Community] Center organized a ceremony in honor of the Shahids of Al-Shaja'iya, and the inauguration of a memorial monument [in] "the Shahids' Square in Al-Shaja'iya. The inauguration was under the auspices of the Deputy Minister of Finance, Abu Osama Muhammad, and in the presence of parliament members...
"The Chairman of the Association's Board of Directors, Sameh Al-Wadia, made a speech, in which he emphasized the importance of the loyalty to the Shahids and spoke of the anniversary of the Shahids Sallah Khalaf, Ha'el Abd Al-Hamid and Fakhri Al-Omari, which took place on the day of the inauguration of the Shahids' memorial monument." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, February 2, 2005. Abu Iyad, Abu Al-Hol and Abu Muhammad all played major roles in planning the murder of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics.]
1.B.7. Presenting the destruction of Israel as justice and the final stage of the peace process, with the extermination of Jews as the final stage of history
A repeated message in the Palestinian media is that since Israel is illegitimate, the Oslo agreement is the beginning of the process that will result in full justice: the destruction of Israel. The senior PA salaried religious leader, Ibrahim Mudayris, explained on PA TV that the goal of the diplomatic process - the 1967 borders - was a temporary goal. The 'return' to Israeli cities "Haifa, Jaffa, Lod, Ramle, Netanya and Tel Aviv" is merely postponed, until later "as Mohammad returned, as a conqueror."
"We tell you Palestine, we shall return to you... We might return to the 1967 borders by diplomacy, but we won't return to the 1948 borders [e.g. the elimination of Israel] by diplomacy. The 1948 borders - no one on earth recognizes as ours. Therefore, we shall return to the 1967 borders, but we have not given up on [Israeli cities] Jerusalem, and Haifa, Jaffa, Lod, Ramle, Netanya and Tel Aviv. Never. We shall return to every village we have been expelled from, by Allah's will. Why? All the international laws deny the Palestinians their real borders. Our approval to return to the 1967 borders is not a concession for our other rights. No...! This generation might not achieve this stage, but generations will come, and the land of Palestine will demand the Palestinians return as Muhammad returned - as conqueror." [PA TV, February 4, 2005]
"The day will come and we shall rule America. The day will come and we shall rule Britain, we shall rule the entire world, except the Jews. The Jews will not live under our rule agreeably permanently, since they have been treacherous in nature throughout history. A day will come when all shall rest from the Jews, even the tree and the stone, which have suffered from them. Listen to your Beloved [Muhammad], who tells you about the direst termination of the Jews. The tree and the stone want the Muslim to bring every Jew to his end. You all know the Hadith [anticipating the extermination of the Jews]." [Ibrahim Mudayris, PA TV, May 13, 2005]
Since the PA is honoring and promoting terrorists as Shahids - the supreme honor in PA Islamic teaching - the PA is, according to US law, ineligible for direct US funding until it changes the names of all schools, sport centers, sporting events and teams, hospitals, etc. that are named for terrorists. The PA-owned and controlled daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida's honoring of the suicide terrorist of February 25, 2005, by defining him as a Shahid, and PA TV calls for the destruction of Israel ands extermination of Jews, likewise render the PA ineligible for US funding. Many PA municipalities and ministries, including the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Heath, Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Finance and others are all ineligible for US funding because they honor terrorists.
The following are more examples of USAID money illegally going to Palestinian Authority ministries and infrastructures.
2.1. PA Ministry of Education and Higher Learning
All PA universities have active branches of Hamas and Islamic Jihad on campus, and the Ministry of Education has named numerous schools for terrorists. The Ministry is ineligible for aid under the terms of the 2005 Foreign Operations Bill, yet continues to receive money from the United States.
USAID support to universities and PA higher education - $41 Million
Including specifically, Al-Quds, Bir Zeit, Al-Najah and Al-Azhar universities
"The Minister of Education and Higher Learning, Dr. Naim Abu Al-Hamtz, met yesterday with the Director of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), James Bever...
"Bever confirmed that the agency continues to support the sociological-psychological program for students and promised to support a new program for higher education, which includes importing equipment for faculties and supplies of books and also study guides for the university libraries, and in boarding school programs grants for students... The agreement was signed in collaboration with this institution ... for a total of 12 million dollars to aid in the construction of schools." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 10, 2005]
"The Arkan Project, which is controlled by the United States, and the law faculties in Al-Najah University signed yesterday an understanding ... that, in its framework, establishes collaboration between the two sides for the sake of developing law studies...
"The Arkan Project contains two central axes: one is developing law studies in Palestinian faculties for law ... in the Al-Quds, Bir Zeit, Al-Najah and Al-Azhar universities...
"The Arkan Project will sign, at the beginning of next week, an understanding similar to Al-Quds University...
"The Project will be carried out by Kamonkas International ... with the complete financing of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for a total of about four million dollars." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 22, 2005]
"The plan to strengthen the 'Arkan law,' which is controlled by the United States, the understanding was signed with Bir Zeit University...
"The project was signed over the course of recent weeks in understandings similar to the law faculties in the Al-Azhar, Al-Quds and Al-Najah universities."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 2, 2005]
"This higher education program is part of an initiative of making quick improvements at the cost of 41 million dollars, an initiative of the US Agency of International Development.
[The components of this program:]
"Three and a half million dollars on new equipment supplies for technological colleges and vocational training...
"Two and a half million dollars for upgrading computer equipment and developing programs in twenty colleges...
"The acquisition of books, study-guides, subscriptions for electronic newspapers and basic data..." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 17, 2005]
2.2. Gaza Municipality Road Construction
"The Gaza Municipality began working on the [development] project of Al-Quds [Jerusalem] Street, funded by the American Agency for Development USAID, and with the assistance of the Local Authority Ministry."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, December 29, 2004]
It should be noted that the Gaza Municipality spent significant funds from its budget for road works to rename streets for Shahids and terrorists. See Section 1.B.2.1 above.
"The Minister for Local Government, Jamal Al-Shubaki, met yesterday with the director of the American Agency for International Development (USAID) in the West Bank and Gaza, Jim Beaver, and his delegation, and discussed the issue of supplying aid for local committees and municipal elections... As for the projects carried out by the American Agency for Development, Shubaki pointed out the success of these projects, specifically the road projects..."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 14, 2005]
It should be noted that the PA municipalities have invested from their budgets to rename roads for Shahids and terrorists. See Section 1.B.2.1 above.
"Regarding the projects that were performed by the US Agency for Development, Shubaki indicated the success of these projects, especially in the area of the roads." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 14, 2005]
2.3. Sports Centers
"The Khan Yunis municipality completed work in the district sports center project...
"The cost of establishing the district sports center was more than eight hundred thousand dollars, from financing by several donor countries ... [including] the US Agency for International Development." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, February 13, 2005]
3. Palestinian Authority promotion
of hatred of America
Despite receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in USAID funding, the Palestinian Authority continues to actively disseminate anti-American sentiment through its official media. Some recent examples follow.
"Where did Great Britain disappear? Where did the Czar's Russia disappear? ... In Allah's will, He will get rid of the USA like he got rid of them. He caused Russia to disappear within a day, and He is the one who can remove the US and bring it down, and so He shall do it...
"We [Muslims] have ruled the world [in the past] and a day will come, by Allah, and we shall rule the world [again]. The day will come and we shall rule America. The day will come and we shall rule Britain, we shall rule the entire world, except the Jews." [Ibrahim Mudayris, PA salaried Imam, PA TV, May 13, 2005]
"The proud Arab Iraqis are dealing with a barbarian invasion machine, that has targeted Iraq, the land of Iraq, the people of Iraq, the oil of Iraq and the will of the one and only united Arab Iraq...
"We are not terrorists... We are a people that love life and its land... We are not attacking anyone. We are a nation that seeks peace, goodness, lovers of life, justice and freedom, but nevertheless at the same time we are a people that grasps its land and honor until death and beyond...
"Is there aggression against anyone in this? Is there any terrorism, O terrorists, cruel [people] and murderers?
"O you who made Arab and Muslim land into a no-man's land, who burned Iraq and the people of Iraq, who stole the oil of Iraq, its treasures and archeological artifacts, who destroyed the museums of Iraq, its houses, culture and economy, who is the [real] terrorist? The Arab, who defends his existence and the livelihood of his children, or you, who destroys, robs, kills, terrorizes, and causes everything to become disenfranchised and who invades...?!
"Be certain, that by your terror and aggression you will not make of this nation's children anything but fighting leaders, and you will acquire for your sick souls nothing but shame, dishonor, and the curse of history for generations."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 20, 2005]
"The American attack, whose target was the Arab nation living in Palestine and Iraq, will be crushed on the rock of the firm stance of our Palestinian people, standing firmly and fighting the Jihad in Palestine, and on the rock of the strengthening and force of the national resistance in Iraq. The sun will rise after the darkness that was spread by the aggressive policy in the skies of our Arab homeland.
"The Yankee enemy is treacherous, even if it pretends to be a seeker of peace. The occupation remains an occupation and the culture of the resistance teaches me to resist it, even [if just] by writing of the deeds of the enemy."
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, January 27, 2005]
"The United States and the Zionist Entity continue in their dark and hostile aggression toward the Arab and Islamic nation in order to eliminate every progressive, revolutionary and Jihadi faction within it and, afterwards, to subdue it and steal its treasures." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 15, 2005]
"The Muslim remembers, how the Jews corrupted the land... O Muslims! The Jews are Jews. Their character and custom are the corruption and destruction of this land. We keep warning you: the Jews are a cancer that spreads inside the body of the Islamic and Arab nation...
"They invest in the East Asian countries, which were destroyed [by the Tsunami] because of the Jewish and American corruption and destruction." [Ibrahim Mudayris, PA TV, January 7, 2005]
"Our prisoners are subjected to the most criminal kinds of physical torture. They are tied with chains and trussed up with iron chains, and hung by their feet from the ceiling, like animals are hung after slaughter for days. Many of them lose consciousness. Our prisoners are exposed to beating, electricity and fire tortures.
"The prisoners are exposed to conversion to Christianity, to abandoning religion, [as it was] in the distant past and recently. Yes, our prisoners are forced to curse Muhammad; our prisoners are forced to curse the religion of Allah, our prisoners are forced to curse the essence of divinity.
"Haven't you heard of our prisoners in Palestine, have you not heard of our prisoners in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and all over the world, who are exploited and imprisoned, and are offered conversion to Christianity?
"This is an old - new infidel policy. Allah's servant, Ibn Al-Hudhafa Al-Sahmi, totally refused this. The [Christian] Caesar told him: 'We shall dip you in boiling oil'. He answered: 'Do as you wish'. He arrived with two Muslims and was dipped in boiling oil until his flesh separated from his bone. But what the Caesar did was not as bad as what his followers do, the missionaries of freedom and democracy of today. In the name of Allah, what Caesar did, dipping Muslims in boiling oil, was one hundred thousand times lighter than what their soldiers are doing today to our wives and daughters in Iraq, in Palestine, in Guantanamo and in Abu Ghraib.
"What Caesar did is not as bad as five American soldiers who meet to rape one of our daughters, a girl who has the honor of a Muslim woman, in order to desecrate her honor at the Abu Ghraib prison." [Ibrahim Mudayris, PA Imam, PA TV, April 15, 2005]
The irony of the PA taking US financial support with one hand while promoting hatred of the US with the other was strikingly apparent on May 14 this year. In the PA-owned official daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, a half-page advertisement was placed by USAID on the very same page that the PA daily ran a viciously anti-American cartoon.
US 2005 Foreign Operations Bill
PROHIBITION ON ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION
SEC. 558. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to provide equipment, technical support, consulting services, or any other form of assistance to the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation.
WEST BANK AND GAZA PROGRAM
SEC. 559. (a) OVERSIGHT- For fiscal year 2005, 30 days prior to the initial obligation of funds for the bilateral West Bank and Gaza Program, the Secretary of State shall certify to the appropriate committees of Congress that procedures have been established to assure the Comptroller General of the United States will have access to appropriate United States financial information in order to review the uses of United States assistance for the Program funded under the heading `Economic Support Fund' for the West Bank and Gaza.
(b) VETTING- Prior to the obligation of funds appropriated by this Act under the heading `Economic Support Fund' for assistance for the West Bank and Gaza, the Secretary of State shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that such assistance is not provided to or through any individual, private or government entity, or educational institution that the Secretary knows or has reason to believe advocates, plans, sponsors, engages in, or has engaged in, terrorist activity. The Secretary of State shall, as appropriate, establish procedures specifying the steps to be taken in carrying out this subsection and shall terminate assistance to any individual, entity, or educational institution which he has determined to be involved in or advocating terrorist activity.
(c) PROHIBITION- None of the funds appropriated by this Act for assistance under the West Bank and Gaza program may be made available for the purpose of recognizing or otherwise honoring individuals who commit, or have committed, acts of terrorism.
(d) AUDITS-
(1) The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall ensure that Federal or non-Federal audits of all contractors and grantees, and significant subcontractors and subgrantees, under the West Bank and Gaza Program, are conducted at least on an annual basis to ensure, among other things, compliance with this section.
(2) Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading `Economic Support Fund' that are made available for assistance for the West Bank and Gaza, up to $1,000,000 may be used by the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development for audits, inspections, and other activities in furtherance of the requirements of this subsection. Such funds are in addition to funds otherwise available for such purposes.
