Issa Abd Rabbo's mother appears on PA TV to celebrate her son. Photo: PMW/Youtube.

In the past month, a number of senior Palestinian Authority officials including Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, as well as PA TV, have  honored murderer Issa Abd Rabbo.

Rabbo is serving two life sentences for the brutal 1984 murder of two Israeli university students, Ron Levi and Revital Seri, who were hiking south of Jerusalem. At gun point he tied them up, put bags over their heads and then shot and murdered both.

According to Palestinian Media Watch, last month, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas sent the Secretary-General of his office, Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim, to the home of Abd Rabbo’s family in the Deheisheh refugee camp to honor him:

“Representing President Mahmoud Abbas… [Abd Al-Rahim] spoke with Issa’s mother and conveyed President Abbas’ and the Palestinian leadership’s greetings to her. He expressed appreciation and praised her for standing strong and for what she has sacrificed throughout 30 years of waiting, coping and patience.”

According to Wafa (the official PA news agency), on March 13, 2013 , Abbas’ representative said to Rabbo’s mother:

“The [prisoners’] chains will certainly be broken and removed by virtue of the heroes’ and mothers’ willpower,” and that “the best of the Palestinian people’s sons are in prison.”