Israel Matzav

Keeping the key point in focus

On Tuesday, Palestinian Media Watch reported that the 'Palestinian Authority,' as part of its 'preparations for peace,' has named a youth football (soccer) tournament after Wafa Idris, the first female suicide bomber in Israel.

The Al-Amari Palestinian youth center has announced a football tournament for youth to be held later this week, named after the first Palestinian female suicide bomber Wafa Idris.

As an added 'bonus,' the youth center in question is connected to UNRWA, and UNRWA's logo appeared on the publicity for the event.

The Al-Amari youth center's website displays its logo with UNRWA's name in the center. On the home page, just below the logo and bordered in red, is the announcement of the Wafa Idris tournament.
[http://www.ammariclub.com/mainPage2.aspx ]

Within a short time, UNRWA had denied any connection to the event.

UNRWA statement about this use of UNRWA's name by the youth center:

Statement by UNRWA Spokesman, Chris Gunness

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA firmly rejects allegations made by Palestinian Media Watch that an "UNRWA youth center" named an event after a suicide bomber. The false accusation comes in an article posted by Palestinian Media Watch director, Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik.

The allegation that an UNRWA youth center had named an event after a suicide bomber is patently false as UNRWA has not run youth centers in the West Bank for over ten years.

By phone UNRWA spokesman told PMW that the use of the name "UNRWA" by the Al-Amari youth center in its logo was not authorized by UNRWA.

UNRWA misses the point. As PMW documents at length, the 'Palestinian Authority' has been glorifying Idris for years. The point here isn't whether UNRWA was or was not involved in the tournament. The point is that the 'Palestinian Authority' has once again encouraged its people to support terrorism by glorifying a terrorist. That's not bringing peace closer - that's pushing it away.

Moreover, even if UNRWA was not involved in the tournament, it must do more than issue a denial. It has to act as a responsible parent to its 'Palestinian' charges.

PMW is very disappointed that UNRWA is condemning the messenger PMW and not condemning the Al-Amari Youth Center. UNRWA should be condemning the youth center, first and foremost, for sponsoring a football tournament named after a suicide terrorist. This was not mentioned in UNRWA's announcement at all.

Second, UNRWA should condemn the youth center for unauthorized use of the name UNRWA in their logo.

Third, UNRWA should condemn the youth center for publicizing on the internet a connection to UNRWA that no longer exists.

PMW believes that it is important that UNRWA, which is so actively involved in so many aspects of Palestinian life, take an active role in fighting against this culture of hate and terror glorification promoted by the PA. UNRWA acts irresponsibly when releasing the above statement related to a football tournament named after a suicide bomber to which UNRWA's name was connected by the Palestinian center, without a word of condemnation of the naming of the event after the suicide bomber.

PMW is waiting for UNRWA to issue the appropriate condemnation of the event as soon as possible.

UNRWA missed the point on this one. They should have (and still should) condemn the naming of the tournament after a suicide bomber. Naming a tournament after a suicide bomber is an action that does not bring peace any closer. It just encourages more people to become suicide bombers.

Labels: Palestinian Media Watch, suicide bombers, UNRWA, Wafa Idris

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:15 AM