The terrorists who perpetrated Monday's suicide bombing in Dimona were glorified in three newspapers controlled by the Palestinian Authority, including the official Al-Hayat al-Jadida which is controlled by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Media Watch reported Wednesday.
A police officer at the scene of February's suicide bombing in Dimona.
Photo: AP
"The perpetrators of the operation died as shahids ... an Israeli was killed and eleven were wounded in the Dimona operation," Al-Hayat al-Jadida reported on February 5.
The Palestinian dailies Al-Iyam and Al-Quds also defined the bombers as glorious martyrs, or shahids.
The Palestinian media's description of the terrorists as shahids, granting them Islam's highest honor, clearly contradicts Abbas's condemnation of the terror attack.
According to Islam, a shahid is a person who dies a "holy death" for allah and is conceived as a hero and role model in Palestinian society, specifically for Palestinian youths.
Also described as shahids in the Palestinian media were two Palestinians who attempted to murder Israelis in Kfar Etzyon's Makor Haim High School several weeks ago.
Although terrorists have always been defined as shahids in Palestinian society, the latest report is particularly disturbing since it demonstrates that while Israel and the PA are attempting to renew peace negotiations, the PA is continuing to honor terrorists.
