PA: Tel Aviv terrorist a martyr
The Palestinian Authority, Hamas and other Palestinian groups declared Nashat Milhem a shaheed (martyr).
The PA Ministry of Health initially added Milhem, who is an Israeli citizen, to its list of “martyrs” who were killed by Israelis during the current wave of terrorism, which began in early October.
However, the ministry on Friday night removed Milhem’s name from the list. The ministry explained that it documents the names of Palestinian “martyrs” only in areas that fall under its jurisdiction, namely the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.
However, the ministry did not offer any explanation as to why another Israeli Arab, Muhanad al-Okabi, is included in its list of “martyrs.” Al-Okabi, who carried out the October 18 terror attack at the Beersheba Central Bus Station, appears as number 31 on the PA ministry’s list of “martyrs.”
The ministry defended the decision to remove Milhem’s name from its “list of martyrs” by arguing that this does not mean that he is not entitled to be characterized as a “martyr.”
A statement issued by the PA ministry praised Milhem as “one of the most precious martyrs whose name has been inscribed with his pure blood that watered our the soil of our free land.”
The ministry dismissed criticism by many Palestinians for excluding Milhem from the list, saying he is no difference between him and any other Palestinian “martyr.”
“We are proud of our Palestinian people in the 1948 lands,” the PA ministry said, referring to Israel’s Arab citizens. “We are proud of their sacrifices and achievements. No one can deny their belonging to their homeland, Palestine.”
Hamas and Islamic Jihad condemned the killing of Milhem and praised him as a “hero” and “martyr.”
Hamas spokesman Hussam Badran praised Milhem for causing “panic” in Israel for a whole week. “Milhem is an example of a free Palestinian who defends himself and his cause,” the spokesman said.
Islamic Jihad said in a statement that Israel would “pay a price for its crime” of killing Milhem.
The two groups later set up a tent in Gaza City to receive condolences over the death of Milhem.
By Khaled Abu Toameh
The Jerusalem Post
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