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Palestinian Authority: Mass Murderers Are ‘Awe-Inspiring Symbols for Our People’
The charred remains of the Israeli bus hijacked by Palestinian terrorists in 1978 Coastal Road massacre, which was masterminded by female terrorist Dalal Mughrabi. Photo: MathKnight via Wikimedia Commons.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has turned arch-terrorist Abu Jihad (Khalil Al-Wazir) into one of the greatest role models for Palestinian society. He headed the PLO terror organization’s military wing and planned many deadly Fatah terror attacks from the 1960s to the 1980s, in which 125 Israelis were murdered.
These “achievements” are a source of eternal pride for Palestinians, and the PA and all PA institutions commemorate and glorify Abu Jihad on the anniversary of his death.
Affectionately hailing Abu Jihad as “the Prince of Martyrs,” the PA praised him in its official daily earlier this year, highlighting the numerous terror attacks he planned. The paper even stated how many Israelis were murdered in some of Abu Jihad’s “military operations,” among them the Coastal Road massacre that, prior to Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, was the most lethal in Israel’s history with 37 murdered Israelis, among them 12 children:
The article in the official PA daily included a picture of terrorist Khalil Al-Wazir “Abu Jihad.”
Abu Jihad, the deputy general commander of the revolution forces and engineer of the first Intifada …
Among the military operations [i.e., terror attacks] that Abu Jihad planned: the Zohar reservoir bombing in 1955; the operation to blow up the Israeli National Water Carrier pipelines (Eilabun tunnel) in 1965; the Savoy Hotel operation in Tel Aviv and the killing of 10 Israelis in 1975; the operation to blow up a truck bomb in Jerusalem (15 murdered – ed.) in 1975; the operation to kill Albert Levy, the senior sapper and his assistant, in Nablus in 1976; the Dalal Mughrabi operation, in which more than 37 Israelis were killed, in 1978; the operation to shell the Eilat Port in 1979; and the Katyusha fire on the northern settlements )in 1981.
In addition, he also planned the infiltration of the headquarters of the Israeli military governor in Tyre and its bombing, leading to the deaths of 76 officers and soldiers, including 12 senior officers, in 1982; he led the war of attrition during the years 1982-1984 in southern Lebanon; and he planned the Dimona Reactor operation [i.e., Mothers’ Bus attack, 3 murdered] in 1988, which was the principal reason for his assassination. [emphasis added]
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 16, 2025]
Palestinian Media Watch documented last year that the PA named a new hall in Ramallah after Abu Jihad.
The Palestinian National Council (the legislative body of the PLO) elevated Abu Jihad to the status of “a symbol and paradigm of the Palestinian revolution,” owing to the many murderous terror attacks he planned against Israelis that it praised as “quality operations”:
Posted text: ” On this date in 1988, the malicious hands of the occupation’s [i.e., Israel’s] arms and its security forces succeeded in killing a symbol and paradigm of the Palestinian revolution, unique leader Khalil Al-Wazir ‘Abu Jihad,’ … He was one of the first founders of the Fatah Movement and a member of its [Fatah] Central Committee, the mastermind behind the quality operations [i.e., terror attacks] in the history of the revolution, a sharp politician and military man who combined wisdom in leadership and determination in confrontation.” [emphasis added]
[Palestinian National Council Chairman Rawhi Fattouh, Facebook page, April 16, 2025]
PA educational institutions also mark the day of Abu Jihad’s death.
Fatah’s Shabiba High School Movement arranged a “cultural competition” called “Remaining Loyal to the Path” at schools in Nablus. The top of the competition registration form features a picture of terrorist Abu Jihad and a picture of former PLO and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat, making it clear that students are being encouraged to remain loyal to their path of terror:
Former Israeli Arab Member of Parliament and Head of the High Follow-Up Committee for the Arab Citizens of Israel Muhammad Barakeh credited Abu Jihad — together with Arafat — with initiating and “managing” the first Intifada, which resulted in “unprecedented achievements”:
Muhammad Barakeh: “The [first] Intifada – which was initiated by Abu Jihad and his comrades, foremost among them [former PLO Chairman and PA President] Yasser Arafat – made unprecedented achievements for the Palestinian people and was managed under the supervision of Abu Jihad from abroad.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 17, 2025]
Another great “hero” of Palestinian society is imprisoned terrorist and member of the PA parliament and Fatah Central Committee, Marwan Barghouti, who orchestrated three shooting attacks in which five people were murdered.
While Barghouti is serving five life sentences, he is also the PA’s “national symbol and model of inspiration for the masses,” according to Abbas’ deputy in Fatah, Mahmoud Al-Aloul. In fact, he is so popular that Barghouti often comes out at the top of polls when Palestinians are asked who they would elect for PA chairman.
On the anniversary of Barghouti’s arrest, PA leader Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Party praised him as “the engineer of the Al-Aqsa Intifada” — the PA’s five-year terror campaign during which more than 1,100 Israelis were murdered:
Posted text: “The 23rd anniversary of the arrest of the engineer of the Al-Aqsa Intifada and Fatah Movement Central Committee member commander prisoner Marwan Barghouti” [emphasis added]
[Fatah Commission of Information and Culture, Facebook page, April 15, 2025]
Fatah also praised terrorist Barghouti as “a shining example on the path of the Palestinian struggle and an awe-inspiring symbol for our people.” Abbas’ party then stressed that it endorses Barghouti’s path of murder and terror, stating that it is “committed to the principles outlined by its leaders, founders, and fighters.”
The author is a senior analyst at Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article was originally published.
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Switzerland Moves to Close Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s Geneva Office Over Legal Irregularities
Palestinians carry aid supplies received from the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in the central Gaza Strip, May 29, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ramadan Abed/File Photo
Switzerland has moved to shut down the Geneva office of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israeli-backed aid group, citing legal irregularities in its establishment.
The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza in late May, implementing a new aid delivery model aimed at preventing the diversion of supplies by Hamas, as Israel continues its defensive military campaign against the Palestinian terrorist group.
The initiative has drawn criticism from the UN and international organizations, some of which have claimed that Jerusalem is causing starvation in the war-torn enclave.
Israel has vehemently denied such accusations, noting that, until its recently imposed blockade, it had provided significant humanitarian aid in the enclave throughout the war.
Israeli officials have also said much of the aid that flows into Gaza is stolen by Hamas, which uses it for terrorist operations and sells the rest at high prices to Gazan civilians.
With a subsidiary registered in Geneva, the GHF — headquartered in Delaware — reports having delivered over 56 million meals to Palestinians in just one month.
According to a regulatory announcement published Wednesday in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce, the Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations (ESA) may order the dissolution of the GHF if no creditors come forward within the legal 30-day period.
The Trump administration did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Swiss decision to shut down its Geneva office.
“The GHF confirmed to the ESA that it had never carried out activities in Switzerland … and that it intends to dissolve the Geneva-registered branch,” the ESA said in a statement.
Last week, Geneva authorities gave the GHF a 30-day deadline to address legal shortcomings or risk facing enforcement measures.
Under local laws and regulations, the foundation failed to meet several requirements: it did not appoint a board member authorized to sign documents domiciled in Switzerland, did not have the minimum three board members, lacked a Swiss bank account and valid address, and operated without an auditing body.
The GHF operates independently from UN-backed mechanisms, which Hamas has sought to reinstate, arguing that these vehicles are more neutral.
Israeli and American officials have rejected those calls, saying Hamas previously exploited UN-run systems to siphon aid for its war effort.
The UN has denied those allegations while expressing concerns that the GHF’s approach forces civilians to risk their safety by traveling long distances across active conflict zones to reach food distribution points.
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Key US Lawmaker Warns Ireland of Potential Economic Consequences for ‘Antisemitic Path’ Against Israel
US Sen. James Risch (R-ID) speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Washington, DC, May 21, 2024. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch (R-ID) issued a sharp warning Tuesday, accusing Ireland of embracing antisemitism and threatening potential economic consequences if the Irish government proceeds with new legislation targeting Israeli trade.
“Ireland, while often a valuable U.S. partner, is on a hateful, antisemitic path that will only lead to self-inflicted economic suffering,” Risch wrote in a post on X. “If this legislation is implemented, America will have to seriously reconsider its deep and ongoing economic ties. We will always stand up to blatant antisemitism.”
Marking a striking escalation in rhetoric from a senior US lawmaker, Risch’s comments came amid growing tensions between Ireland and Israel, which have intensified dramatically since the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Those attacks, in which roughly 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 200 taken hostage, prompted a months-long Israeli military campaign in Gaza that has drawn widespread international scrutiny. Ireland has positioned itself as one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s response, accusing the Israeli government of disproportionate use of force and calling for immediate humanitarian relief and accountability for the elevated number of Palestinian civilian casualties.
Dublin’s stance has included tangible policy shifts. In May 2024, Ireland formally recognized a Palestinian state, becoming one of the first European Union members to do so following the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The move was condemned by Israeli officials, who recalled their ambassador to Ireland and accused the Irish government of legitimizing terrorism. Since then, Irish lawmakers have proposed further measures, including legislation aimed at restricting imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, policies viewed in Israel and among many American lawmakers as aligning with the controversial Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
While Irish leaders have defended their approach as grounded in international law and human rights, critics in Washington, including Risch, have portrayed it as part of a broader pattern of hostility toward Israel. Some US lawmakers have begun raising the possibility of reevaluating trade and diplomatic ties with Ireland in response.
Risch’s warning is one of the clearest indications yet that Ireland’s policies toward Israel could carry economic consequences. The United States is one of Ireland’s largest trading partners, and American companies such as Apple, Google, Meta and Pfizer maintain substantial operations in the country, drawn by Ireland’s favorable tax regime and access to the EU market.
Though the Trump administration has not echoed Risch’s warning, the remarks reflect growing unease in Washington about the trajectory of Ireland’s foreign policy. The State Department has maintained a careful balancing act, expressing strong support for Israel’s security while calling for increased humanitarian access in Gaza. Officials have stopped short of condemning Ireland’s actions directly but have expressed concern about efforts they see as isolating Israel on the international stage.
Ireland’s stance is emblematic of a growing international divide over the war. While the US continues to provide military and diplomatic backing to Israel, many European countries have called for an immediate ceasefire and investigations into alleged war crimes.
Irish public opinion has long leaned pro-Palestinian, and Irish lawmakers have repeatedly voiced concern over the scale of destruction in Gaza and the dire humanitarian situation.
Irish officials have not yet responded to The Algemeiner’s request for comment.
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Israel Condemns Iran’s Suspension of IAEA Cooperation, Urges Europe to Reinstate UN Sanctions
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar at a press conference in Berlin, Germany, June 5, 2025. REUTERS/Christian Mang/File Photo
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Wednesday condemned Iran’s decision to halt cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog and called on the international community to reinstate sanctions to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
“Iran has just issued a scandalous announcement about suspending its cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency),” Saar wrote in a post on X. “This is a complete renunciation of all its international nuclear obligations and commitments.”
Last week, the Iranian parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA “until the safety and security of [the country’s] nuclear activities can be guaranteed.”
“The IAEA and its Director-General are fully responsible for this sordid state of affairs,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X.
The top Iranian diplomat said this latest decision was “a direct result of [IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi’s] regrettable role in obfuscating the fact that the Agency — a full decade ago — already closed all past issues.
“Through this malign action,” Araghchi continued, “he directly facilitated the adoption of a politically-motivated resolution against Iran by the IAEA [Board of Governors] as well as the unlawful Israeli and US bombings of Iranian nuclear sites.”
The Parliament of Iran has voted for a halt to collaboration with the IAEA until the safety and security of our nuclear activities can be guaranteed.
This is a direct result of @rafaelmgrossi‘s regrettable role in obfuscating the fact that the Agency—a full decade ago—already…
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 27, 2025
On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian approved a bill banning UN nuclear inspectors from entering the country until the Supreme National Security Council decides that there is no longer a threat to the safety of its nuclear sites.
In response, Saar urged European countries that were part of the now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal to activate its “snapback” clause and reinstate all UN sanctions lifted under the agreement.
Officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), this accord between Iran and several world powers imposed temporary restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
During his first term, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal and reinstated unilateral sanctions on Iran.
“The time to activate the Snapback mechanism is now! I call upon the E3 countries — Germany, France and the UK to reinstate all sanctions against Iran!” Saar wrote in a post on X.
“The international community must act decisively now and utilize all means at its disposal to stop Iranian nuclear ambitions,” he continued.
The time to activate the Snapback mechanism is now!
I call upon the E3 countries- Germany, France and the UK to reinstate all sanctions against Iran!
Iran has just issued a scandalous announcement about suspending its cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy…— Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) July 2, 2025
Saar’s latest remarks come after Araghchi met last week in Geneva with his counterparts from Britain, France, Germany and the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas — their first meeting since the Iran-Israel war began.
Europe is actively urging Iran to reengage in talks with the White House to prevent further escalation of tensions, but has yet to address the issue of reinstating sanctions.
Speaking during an official visit to Latvia on Tuesday, Saar said that “Operation Rising Lion” — Israel’s sweeping military campaign aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities — has “revealed the full extent of the Iranian regime’s threat to Israel, Europe, and the global order.”
“Iran deliberately targeted civilian population centers with its ballistic missiles,” Saar said at a press conference. “The same missile threat can reach Europe, including Latvia and the Baltic states.”
“Israel’s actions against the head of the snake in Iran contributed directly to the safety of Europe,” the Israeli top diplomat continued, adding that Israeli strikes have set back the Iranian nuclear program by many years.
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