UN Ambassador Shalev
Photo: Shahar Azran
Israel seeks UN condemnation of Palestinians
Envoy Shalev files complaint over alleged PA plan to name presidential offices after terror mastermind; Palestinians dismiss reports, say no such building exists
WASHINGTON – Israel has filed a complaint with the United Nations Thursday over alleged Palestinian plans to name an official PA building after terror mastermind Yahya Ayyash.
In its complaint, Israel seeks a harsh condemnation of the Palestinian Authority's intention. However, Palestinian officials dismissed the reports and said there were no plans to name a government building after Ayyash, a notorious Hamas bomb-maker known as "the Engineer" responsible for hundreds of Israeli deaths before his assassination by the Shin Bet.
"Commemorating - and not for the first time - an arch terrorist is an act against the spirit of the peace process and against Israel," UN Envoy Gabriela Shalev wrote in her complaint letter. "Given that the Road Map for peace explicitly states that 'all official Palestinian institutions end incitement against Israel,' what message does the Palestinian Authority send by honoring terrorists?"
The Palestinian plan "fuels the future of terrorism as Palestinian children now walk down streets and through squares that honor terrorists," Shalev wrote.
The Israeli envoy urged the UN to "vigorously condemn" the Palestinian move, adding: "I sincerely hope that you will raise the unfortunate decision to glorify terrorists in the streets of Ramallah in your upcoming briefing to the Security Council."
However, Palestinian Authority officials denied the existence of a government building to be named after Ayyash. The sources noted that only recently the PA refrained from naming a square in Ramallah after a female terrorist who carried out a deadly attack on an Israeli bus.
The US was also quick to condemn the PA following the report. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said, "We strongly condemn the glorification of terrorists. Honoring terrorists who have murdered innocent civilians, either by official statements or by the dedication of public places, hurts peace efforts and must end. We will continue to hold Palestinian leaders accountable for incitement. "
