US lawmakers to PA: Axe official who praised terror

Congress members call on Abbas to oust Fatah official who said murderer of Jewish man in W. Bank in April was a heroic fighter.

By JTA
Evyatar Borovsky 370 (photo credit: Nir Elias/Reuters)
Evyatar Borovsky 370
(photo credit: Nir Elias/Reuters)
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.