New York — Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority (PA) Ministry of Culture released its Book of the Month today, a poetry collection honoring suicide bomber Hanadi Jaradat who murdered 29 Israelis in a Haifa restaurant in October 2003 (Palestinian Media Watch, August 22, 2003). This was distributed as a special supplement in the Palestinian Arab paper al-Ayyam.

The collection includes a poem glorifying suicide bombings as “the highest goal.” Jaradat is referred to as “the Rose of Palestine.”

In addition the PA’s official daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida yesterday praised the establishment by Hamas of a troop of aspiring female suicide bombers.

Zionist Organization of America Morton A. Klein said, “This is an abomination. The first order of the Road Map is to end the promotion of murder and hatred against Israelis and yet it continues full force while the world looks on in silence. Where is President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon on this. Why are they not ending negotiations and funding until this incitement ends. Instead they are talking about further concessions by Israel to the PA.

“Peace is impossible until the PA society stops honoring killers, educating for hatred and murder, and naming schools, streets and sports teams after suicide bombers.”

“The silence of the world is deafening.”