[ Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:

Will U.S. Vice President Biden join with the leadership of the Palestinian
Authority and honor Dalal Mughrabi, a terrorist who murdered 37 civilians in
1978?

No.

But the "friends of peace" - the "moderate peace partners" Mr. Biden will
meet in Ramallah will,

Question: Where are the comments from American officials - and others -
that it is "inappropriate" for the PA to do this the same week that V.P.
Biden is visiting. That its the "wrong time" and "counterproductive" to
celebrate the murder of civilians the same week that the launching of
proximity talks with Israel are being finalized? ]

Bulletin
March 7, 2010
Palestinian Media Watch

PA to name square for murderer of 37
on anniversary of her attack
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=1715
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
p:+972 2 625 4140 e: pmw@palwatch.org
f: +972 2 624 2803 w: www.palwatch.org

Another chapter is unfolding in the ongoing confrontation between Israel and
the Palestinian Authority over the naming of a square after the terrorist
Dalal Mughrabi. In December, Palestinian Media Watch publicized that the
Municipality of Ramallah planned to name a public square in honor of the
terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, who led the worst terror attack in Israel's
history when she and other terrorists hijacked a bus and murdered 37
civilians in 1978. Prime Minister Netanyahu immediately protested to the US
and sharply criticized the PA for its intention to name the square in
Ramallah "after a terrorist who killed dozens of Israelis."

The official PA daily newspaper reports today that the PA has chosen to
ignore PM Netanyahu's criticism and protests to the US. Not only does it
still intend to name the square after the terrorist, but the date chosen for
the inaugural ceremony is this Thursday, March 11, the 32nd anniversary of
the terror attack.

Since PMW's exposure of the story, PA leaders have repeatedly rejected PM
Netanyahu's criticism while defending the practice of honoring murderers,
whom they honor as Martyrs (Shahids). PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas also
referred to the terror attack as "military activities."

See the timeline of the ongoing dispute below.

After PMW's exposure of the PA's naming of the square in December, Israeli
PM Netanyahu protested and condemned the intention:
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=1526

"Today, and a week ago, senior officials from the Prime Minister's office
conveyed a protest to the US against Mahmoud Abbas... that the governor of
Ramallah named a square in her [Mughrabi's] honor."

[Israeli News Channel 2, Jan. 7, 2010]

"Whoever sponsors and supports naming a square in Ramallah in honor of a
terrorist who murdered dozens of Israelis on the Coastal Road - encourages
terror."

[Galei Zahal, (IDF radio), Jan. 10, 2010]

Today the official PA daily reports that the Municipality is continuing with
this Thursday's inauguration:

Headline: "Preparations for inauguration of Shahida (Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi
Square complete"
"The El-Bireh Municipality has completed construction work at the Shahida
(Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi Square in the Um Al-Sharait region, and has
commenced preparations for its inauguration this Thursday, the anniversary
of Mughrabi's Martyrdom. The mayor, Jamal Al-Tawil, said that... this year
the municipality will celebrate the inauguration of the Shahida (Martyr)
Dalal Mughrabi Square in order to commemorate her memory and her sacrifice
as a Palestinian woman who resisted the occupation. City Council member Aida
Abu-Ubeid said that the square is considered a symbol of the sacrifice of
the Palestinian woman. She also noted that flowers and trees will be planted
there, and that a picture of the Shahida Dalal Mughrabi will be placed at
the center of the square."

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 7, 2010]

There has been no public comment from the Obama administration about the
PA's honoring of the terrorist.

Timeline on Dalal Mughrabi Square debate:

Dec. 31, 2009: PMW releases story of PA's intention to name square after
Mughrabi

Click to view PMW's release of PA's naming of square after terrorist.

http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=1526
Jan. 7, 2010: PM Netanyahu protests PA's honoring Mughrabi to the US

"Today, and a week ago, senior officials from the Prime Minister's office
conveyed a protest to the US against Mahmoud Abbas... that the governor of
Ramallah named a square in her [Mughrabi's] honor."

[Israeli News Channel 2]

Jan. 10: PM Netanyahu opens cabinet meeting with criticism of PA's honoring
Mughrabi

"Whoever sponsors and supports naming a square in Ramallah in honor of a
terrorist who murdered dozens of Israelis on the Coastal Road - encourages
terror."

[Galei Zahal, (IDF radio), Jan. 10, 2010]

Jan. 11: PA Minister of Culture, Siham Barghouti, rejects Netanyahu's
protest

"Honoring them this way [by naming places after Martyrs] is the least we can
give them, and this is our right."

[Al-Ayyam, Jan. 11, 2010]

Jan. 17: PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas rejects Netanyahu's protest

"I do not deny [the naming]. Of course we want to name a square after her
[Mughrabi]... [We] carried out military activities; can I then later
renounce all that we have done? No, I don't renounce it."

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 17, 2010]

Feb. 3: Ashraf Ajrami, former PA Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, defends
naming

"[PA] talk about Shahids (Martyrs) is considered, from their [Israel's]
point of view, extremism and support for terror... Likewise, naming a square
after Dalal Mughrabi is [according to Israel] reason for criticism and
attack."

[Al-Ayyam, Feb. 3, 2010]

Feb. 25: Mahmoud Al-Aloul, General Commissioner for Recruitment and
Organization, emphasizes importance of naming

"Mahmoud Al-Aloul, member of the Fatah Central Committee and General
Commissioner for Recruitment and Organization, emphasized that it is
important to continue commemorating the memory of the Shahids (Martyrs) and
the Palestinian acts of heroism, and most importantly the anniversary of the
Martyrdom of Dalal Mughrabi, heroine of the Coastal Road operation [terror
attack], which falls on March 11th each year."

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 25, 2010]

Today, March 7: PA daily announces Thursday's inauguration of square

"The El-Bireh Municipality has completed construction work at the Shahida
(Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi Square ... and has commenced preparations for its
inauguration this Thursday, the anniversary of Mughrabi's Martyrdom... City
Council member Aida Abu-Ubeid said that the square is considered a symbol of
the sacrifice of the Palestinian woman. She also noted that flowers and
trees will be planted there, and that a picture of the Shahida Dalal
Mughrabi will be placed at the center of the square."

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 7, 2010]