After Turkish Attack, Is Fatah Promoting Jihadi Tourism to Jerusalem?
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by Itamar Marcus and Ephraim D. Tepler
Illustrative: Israeli forces work at the scene of a suspected terrorist attack at a checkpoint outside of Jerusalem, in the West Bank, March 13, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Ilan Rosenberg
In February, Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) reported about how the Palestinian Authority (PA) praised American soldier Aaron Bushnell for potentially sparking a movement that would cause people to turn from passive protest to self-sacrifice against Israel.
A writer for the official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, even went so far as to say that Palestinian-styled self-sacrifice — one of the PA euphemisms for suicidal attacks — serves as an example for all humanity.
Last week, a 34-year-old Turkish imam visiting Israel took a page from the PA attack playbook, and stabbed and wounded an Israeli border policeman near Herod’s Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Turkish tourist’s attack was labeled by Fatah’s spokesman as a “self-sacrificing operation,” just as it did for Bushnell’s self-immolation.
Fatah Spokesman in Jerusalem Ma’arouf Al-Rifai: “In April there was one Martyr [in Jerusalem], namely Turkish tourist [Hassan Saklana] who ascended to Heaven while carrying out a self-sacrificing operation in the Old City of Jerusalem.”
[Official PA TV, May 2, 2024]
The terminology that the Fatah spokesman used to praise this attack also falls in line with the fundamentalist religious doctrine of the PA. In its communication with the international community, the PA pretends that its war with Israel is territorial — but its own people are taught that Islam prohibits Israel’s existence, that killing Israeli Jews is therefore mandated by the Koran, and is an Islamic act.
Accordingly, instead of condemning the attempted murder, Fatah has praised it as an act rewarded by Allah, and the PA, under PA law, will reward the family of the jihadi tourist with a monthly stipend of 1,400 shekels for life.
Ephraim D. Tepler is a contributor to Palestinian Media Watch (PMW). Itamar Marcus is PMW’s Founder and Director. A version of this article originally appeared at PMW.
