Abbas praises Palestinian murderer upon release, mother says son ‘brings us pride’

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has praised a Palestinian terrorist who murdered an Israeli soldier and his mother said that her son “did nothing wrong” when he murdered an Israeli in cold blood. Instead, his actions filled her with “pride”.

Last week, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner was released from an Israeli prison.

Karim Younis was convicted in 1983 of the kidnapping and murder of Israeli soldier, Avi Bromberg.

Younis has become an influential figure within Palestinian society, as a result of his murderous actions. Now, upon his release, he is being praised as a hero.

In a video released this week, Younis’s mother said he “did nothing wrong” when he murdered an Israeli in cold blood.

The ideo was shared by Palestinian Media Watch which translates Palestinian news and television shows into English.

“I told him: “Don’t worry… You did nothing wrong.” … [To all prisoners I say:] “Don’t despair and don’t worry. You did nothing wrong that harms your families or shames them for your actions. On the contrary, you bring us pride,” Younis’s mother says in the clip.

The glorification of terrorism is nothing new in Palestinian society but it is troubling nonetheless. Karim Younis murdered an Israeli soldier and is now given a hero’s welcome forty years later.

More than being honoured by his mother and his hometown, Younis was also praised by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas last Thursday said Younis “represents a symbol of the Palestinian people and the free people of the world in steadfastness”.

He added that securing the release of Palestinian prisoners (many of them terrorists) from Israeli jails was “the cause of the entire Palestinian people.”

In May 2017, Abbas appointed Younes to the Fatah Central Committee. (Fatah is the Palestinian political party that Abbas runs, and is currently the majority party of the Palestinian Authority).

Palestinian society continues to glorify terrorism and reward those who murder Israelis. This is why there is no peace between Israel and the Palestinians. We must pray for Israel, for protection and for strength in dealing with this hatred. And we must pray the Palestinians turn away from such evil.