The PA has named a children's summer camp after Ayyat al-Akhras, a 17 year-old girl who murdered two Israelis in a Jerusalem supermarket on March 29, 2002. This continues the PA policy of naming summer camps, sporting events and schools, after prominent terrorists.
This naming of a children's summer camp for a teenage terrorist is particularity problematic as it is quite natural for children to see another child being honored as a role model.
The following appeared in yesterday's PA daily:
"Dr. Ahmad al-Yazji, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports attended a graduation ceremony of a summer camp named after the Sahida (Woman who died for Allah) Ayyat Al Akhras. It was organized by the Shabaiba [youth organization] of the Fatah in East Gaza... 150 children aged 9-15 participated in the camp...
Al-Yazji stressed the role of the struggle fulfilled by the Palestinian National Liberation Movement "Fatah" and saluted the Shahids (Those who died for Allah), the wounded and the prisoners." [Al Quds - Aug. 14. 2003]
Archives News Item:
"Today the activities begin in the tenth Scouts summer camp, the Shahid Seeker [Death for Allah Seeker]- Ayyat al-Akhras Camp..." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 4, 2002]
In July 2003, the Palestinian Authority named a summer camp for girls after the first woman suicide bomber ― Wafa Idris, who murdered one Israeli and injured over 150, when she blew herself up in January 2002 in Jerusalem.
The camp received UN funding through UNICEF.
The following is from the article that appeared in a PA daily:
"Yesterday, activities ended in the camp named after the Shahida [Died for Allah] Wafa Idris, for girls in the city of Kalkiliya. The camp was founded by the Scout general administration in the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The camp was under the supervision of the Scouts in the Kalkiliya Administration and about 100 girls from the organizing committee of the city's Scouts participated.
"[At the closing ceremonies thanks were given including] to UNICEF for its support of the camps." [Al-Ayyam July 18, 2003]
Another Palestinian summer camp was named for Jihad Al-Amarin, the founder of the suicide terror division of the Fatah, the Al-Aksa Martyrs' Brigade. The story reports that as a camp activity the children visited the terrorist's home, and met his family.
The report in the PA daily:
"The Palestinian Union for Culture, Sciences and Development continues with the activities of the fifth round of the summer camps (which) bears the title: "The Shahid Al-Amarin." This with the cooperation of the children's organization, "Da'una Nafrach" "Let us rejoice." [150 boys and girls aged 12 and 13 are taking part in this camp.]
Yesterday the camp's participants went to the home of the shahid [died for Allah] Jihad Al-Amarin, where (they were greeted by) the shahid's wife, children and family. During the visit there were speeches praising the virtues of the shahid Jihad Al-Amarin, who was assassinated a year ago by the forces of the occupation. [note: Jihad Al-Amarin, the founder of the Al-Aksa Martyrs' Brigade, was killed by Israel.]
The shahid's wife expressed her joy at our people's loyalty to her husband, stating that the shahid Jihad followed a national mission. During the visit the shahid's wife was presented with the camp's shield." [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 13, 2003]
The PA Ministry of Schools and Higher Education, Hebron District, had previously announced that it was naming a girls' high school Dalal Mughrabi ― after the terrorist who participated in the bus hijacking and murder of 36 Israelis and American Gail Rubin, in 1978. The school is being built with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid).
Similarly, a kindergarten in the Hebron District was named after Dalal Mughrabi.
