Minister of the Environment Gilad Erdan told Israel Radio's mid-day news magazine on Sunday that the 'flytilla' is not innocent, and that Amna Mona, who was released and deported to Turkey as part of the Gilad Shalit 'exchange,' was scheduled to arrive in Israel as part of the 'flytilla.'
I discussed Mona and her deportation to Turkey here and here. She was imprisoned in Israel for luring a 16-year old Israeli boy (Ophir Rahum) to his death over the internet.
Abu Bluff meets with released terrorists; UPDATED WITH VIDEO
As the Europeans in the UN Security Council criticize Israel for building homes for Jews, they have nothing to say about 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud AbbasAbu Mazen meeting in Turkey with 11 'Palestinian' terrorists who were released as part of the terrorists for Gilad trade.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was "disappointed" by what he termed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's "unfortunate decision" to meet with freed Palestinian terrorist Amna Muna in Turkey on Wednesday.
Abbas met with Muna along with ten other Palestinians freed and exiled to Turkey as part of the deal to release kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit in October. Muna, the so-called "Internet Murderer" was serving a life sentence for luring 16-year-old Ofir Rahum to Ramallah where he was murdered in 2001.
...
Abbas told them that the issue of the prisoners was at the top of PA leadership's list of priorities. He said that the issue was being raised in all meetings between PA officials and world leaders.
The PA president, according to a statement released by his office, "praised the prisoners for remaining steadfast in the face of Israeli wardens' mastery." He also briefed the released prisoners on the latest developments in the region.
PMO spokesman Mark Regev said that "instead of promoting peace and reconciliation, the Palestinian leadership seems to be putting extremist murderers up on a pedestal... This raises serious questions as to their commitment and as to their desire to end the conflict."
A senior aide to Abbas rejected Israeli criticism of the meeting between Abbas and the former prisoners and accused the Israeli government of searching for excuses to sabotage the peace process.
Hamas, Fatah, the 'Palestinian Authority' - they're all the same. They're all a bunch of terrorists and terror supporters. It's time to move on from them.
UPDATE 10:58 PM
I have video of that meeting for you (with no sound).
Let's go to the videotape.
YNet reports that the Prime Minister's office was 'shocked' at the meeting.
One has to wonder why. An official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it was "shocking to see a man who tells the entire world he wants to make peace with Israel fly all the way to Turkey to meet a despicable murderer."
The Palestinian president also met with Jihad Ya'amur, who took part in the kidnapping and murder of Nachshon Wachsman in 1994. During the meeting Abbas said the release of the remaining Palestinian prisoners was at the top of the Palestinian leadership's agenda.
Terrorist.
UPDATE 11:11 PM
Israel Radio reports that Abu Mazen and Jibril Rajoub went to Turkey specially to meet with the terrorists - and specifically with Mona. Rajoub told Israel Radio that he didn't think there was anything wrong with the meeting.
The New York Times 'balances' allegations of torture and mistreatment of Gilad Shalit and the 'Palestinian' terrorists exchanged for him yesterday, once again attempting to reach a moral equivalence.
Each side accused the other of mistreating its prisoners. Sergeant Shalit, who was denied Red Cross visits throughout his imprisonment, was pushed into an uncomfortable interview on Egyptian television before being handed over to Israel, and Israelis watched his measured responses and labored breathing with fury.
Hamas officials said their members had been subject in Israeli prisons to “torture, compulsion and revenge.”
One look at the gaunt, pale Shalit, as compared with the robust-looking terrorists, should put the lie to that claim.
For the record, Israel Television reported on Tuesday night that Shalit is suffering from a Vitamin D deficiency (one of the very few details about his health that was reported) as a result of lack of sunlight for the last five years and four months. The 'Palestinians' obviously got their hour per day to walk around the yard.
The Times' description of Amna Muna was also rather amusing:
The first passenger off the plane was a middle-aged woman wearing a white coat, and 10 men followed her.
After nearly blowing up terrorists for Gilad deal, Amna Muna arrives in Turkey, Turks not thrilled
I've alluded to this a couple of times - I want to put it out there explicitly. Amna Muna (sometimes referred to as Amina Mona or Muna), who lured 16-year old Ophir Rahum to his death in 2001 and was released on Tuesday as part of the terrorists for Gilad deal, refused at the last minute to go to Gaza. Turkey agreed to take her in addition to ten other terrorists they were already taking. Muna did not want to go to Gaza, because she was the leader of the women terrorists in prison and maintained a reign of terror to keep them in line. She feared retribution from their families.
Not all Turks are thrilled about their country giving shelter to mass murderers (Hat Tip: Joshua I).
"We regard the issue as a humanitarian one. It is about 1,027 Palestinians reuniting with their families as well as one Israeli soldier reuniting with his family," Davutoğlu said. "Turkey is a country which (the Palestinians) should regard as their homeland."
Davutoğlu rebuffed allegations that the Palestinians could pose a threat to Turkey.
"Regardless of whether we see the alleged crimes committed by them as a crime, this deal with Israel amounts to (the crimes) being written off," he said.
Most Israelis would likely dispute that characterization. And lest you think that the 'Palestinian Authority' isn't thrilled to see these terrorists released, the 'Palestinian' ambassador to Turkey met them at the airport.
By the way, the one terrorist who went to Jordan was Ahlam Tamimi, the planner and quarterback of the Sbarro suicide bombing.
Amina Mona, the Fatah terrorist who lured 16-year old Ofir Rahum HY"D (May God Avenge his blood) (pictured) to his death, may not find her new home in Gaza to be very comfortable, writes terrorism expert Yoram Schweitzer.
Apart from being a young and intelligent woman, Mona turned out to be a manipulative woman with a larger ego than the entire Palestinian problem she claims to represent.
During our meetings, her mood swings could be easily identifiable. Alongside her outrageous statements defending her right to murder her enemies, including an innocent teenager who was lured by her romantic gestures, she still tried to convince me that she was not the monster that Israelis claim her to be.
Mona's problem is that it isn’t only Israelis who view her as a monster. Her fellow inmates also think she is. She controlled the prisoners in her ward with an iron fist as if she were Al Capone. Several inmates who refused to obey her orders suffered heavy punishments. Some were bitten by her while others suffered serious burns inflicted by boiling wax because they dared challenge her leadership.
Her infamous cruelty did not go unnoticed. Many Fatah members including her accomplice found it hard to defend her actions to me. Hamas even vowed to "sort things out" with her upon her release.
Even if it is no comfort to the Rahum family and the people of Israel, Mona may initially be received as a hero in Hamas-controlled Gaza, but her fate may not turn out to be as bright. She obviously won't enjoy much comfort in light of her abusive methods in prison.
Israel Radio is reporting that Marwan Barghouti, Abdullah Barghouti and Hassam Salameh - all leaders of the intifadeh - will not be freed (The New York Times says Marwan Barghouti will be freed). But Amana Mona and Ahlam Tamimi will be freed. Israel Radio also reports that Hamas supporters in Gaza are disappointed that Hamas didn't get more.
Israel Radio also reports that some of those released will be deported.
Israel Radio reports that General Security Service head Yoram Cohen says that the names mentioned above will not be included, nor will Ahmed Saadat (murderer of Tourism Minister Rechavam Zeevi) or the planners of the Seder Night (Park Hotel) massacre.
Israel has not agreed not to kill any of the terrorists in the future if they return to terrorism.
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
Minister of the Environment Gilad Erdan told Israel Radio's mid-day news magazine on Sunday that the 'flytilla' is not innocent, and that Amna Mona, who was released and deported to Turkey as part of the Gilad Shalit 'exchange,' was scheduled to arrive in Israel as part of the 'flytilla.'
