US lawmakers to PA: Axe official who praised terror

WASHINGTON (JTA) – A bipartisan group of congressmen condemned comments made by a Palestinian Fatah official in support of the murderer of an Israeli father of five.The letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday strongly condemned Fatah’s Sultan Abu Al-Einein following his “open support for the murderer of Eviatar Borovsky,” and called for him to be removed from office.Al-Einein called the terrorist an “heroic fighter,” according to the letter, which was signed by Reps. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Nita Lowey  (D-N.Y.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.).Al-Einein also stated, “Blessings to the breast that nursed Salam Al-Zaghal,” according to the letter.The congressmen told Abbas that “allowing this type of incitement and hatemongering to take place within your ranks is intolerable if you are truly dedicated to non-violence. We ask that you publicly and officially denounce and condemn Mr. Al-Einein’s remarks at once and remove him from his position in your government.”Borovsky, 31, was killed April 29 as he waited for a bus at the Tapuach Junction in the northern West Bank. Al-Zaghal then took Borovsky’s gun and began shooting at Border Guard officers.Earlier this year, the Tapuach Junction checkpoint was closed as part of an easing of restrictions on the Palestinians.