World

Mahmoud Abbas Appoints Released Terrorist as Presidential Adviser

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Appoints Released Terrorist as Presidential Adviser

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Continuing a troubling pattern of rewarding terrorists, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas bestowed one convicted terrorist a crowning honor. Issuing a “presidential decree,” Abbas granted a major appointment to one of the prisoners recently released by Israel in exchange for the freedom of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped and held by Hamas for five years.

The Jerusalem Post reports on the former prisoner who is now Abbas’ adviser for local governments:

The former prisoner, Mahmoud Awad Damra, was sentenced in 2006 to 15 years in prison for his role in terror attacks against Israel. Damra served as commander of the PA’s [Palestinian Authority] Force 17 security force under former PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.

Two years ago, while he Damra was still in prison, Abbas decided to promote him to the rank of major-general.

Damra was found guilty of planning and logistic coordination of numerous terror attacks in which many people were killed. Among those killed in the terror attacks were US citizens Esh-Kodesh Gilmore and the couple Binyamin and Talia Kahane in 2000.

Arutz 7 provides more information on the former prisoner’s checkered history:

Mahmoud Damara, arrested in 2006 for involvement in the shooting and bombing to death Israelis, was part of Yasser Arafat’s feared Force 17 terrorist group and was one of Israel’s most wanted terrorists until he was arrested in an IDF raid in 2001. Israel freed him last October, along with more than 1,000 other terrorists and security prisoners to gain the return of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.

He served only one-third of his 15-year sentence, including four years he was in jail before his conviction less than two years ago.

Force 17, besides protecting Arafat, was involved in the murder of at least eight Israelis, including soldiers and a woman civilian.. Damara ”supplied the members of the organization with armaments and defined the policies for terrorist attacks,” the IDF said after a raid on the terrorist squad in 2001.

This isn’t the first time Palestinian Authority officials up to and including the president have glorified and rewarded those who have committed heinous acts against Israelis. The most recent example: a special visit Abbas scheduled with 11 other former Palestinian prisoners released in the Shalit deal when he traveled to Turkey, among them at least two convicted of murdering Israelis.

Now, Abbas’ controversial staffing decision coming within a day of an announcement of new peace talks between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators raises questions about the seriousness of the Palestinian Authority president’s peaceful intentions.

Comments (30)

  • Rechercar
    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 12:04am

    Roll your eyes all you want, Notamushroom…Menachem Begin was responsible for the deaths of many innocent people, including British soldiers he took hostage while fighting the British. Electing former terrorists is kind of a Mideast habit.

    Incidentally, both he and Darwa deserve the condemnation of every moral person.

    Report Post »  
  • newmexicopatriots
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 12:02am

    There IS NO PALESTINE!!!!! Israel needs to just take over the West Bank, take over Gaza, and take back all the land that is rightfully theirs. I would gladly go fight on their behalf.

    Report Post » newmexicopatriots  
  • gmoneytx
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 6:59pm

    great and that’s our ally we are sending money to each year…does anyone else see whats wrong with this picture.

    Report Post » gmoneytx  
  • georgiavietvet
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 6:48pm

    releasing terrorists for shalit was a terrible move on isreals part. i understand his captivity was awful for him and his family and that he would most likely have been beheaded. but you cant compramise(sp) the security of the country because of one person or family………………………….

    Report Post »  
  • elosogrande
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 4:16pm

    Come on! Would you expect him to appoint someone who is against terrorism? Abbas is just another savage with nothing on his mind, other than exterminating Jews…and Americans – Jewish or not.

    Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 5:49pm

      what a shock…Abbas appoints a terrorist as an adviser. Whoddathunkit?

      Report Post »  
  • Arshloch
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 3:24pm

    One terrorist to another

    Report Post » Arshloch  
  • blazed904
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 12:44pm

    maybe that one is worth a thousand

    Report Post »  
  • ultimatefighting
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 11:10am

    They’ve still got a lot of catching up to do. Menachem Begin was a wanted terrorist by the British government and he went on to become Prime Minister.

    Report Post » ultimatefighting  
  • sbenard
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 10:36am

    We also learned over the weekend that the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt plans to abrogate Egypt’s treaty with Israel, including REmilitarize the Sinai Peninsula! The Treaty demilitarized the Sinai. That would make it even easier to smuggle arms into Gaza.
    This whole thing is heading for an explosive event soon! More “wars and rumors of wars”!

    Report Post » sbenard  
  • sbenard
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 10:23am

    What next? Will Abbas appoint a convicted terrorist as chief negotiator with the Israelis, too? What a slap in the face that would be!

    Perhaps a well-placed tactical nuke (or two) would work wonders to clean up the middle east of the terrorists. Just sayin’…

    Report Post » sbenard  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 9:58am

    Obama called, and put in a good word for him, thats how he got the job…

    Report Post »  
  • Watchyer6
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 9:31am

    In related news, Hillary Clinton, Leon Panetta, and several other Obama administration spokesmen all issued condemnations of Israel.

    Report Post » Watchyer6  
  • BIGJAYINPA
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 8:25am

    Adding another Terrorist to a Terrorist group. How is this news?? You might as well report whenever Hamas adds a new member or maybe Hezbollah. Our corrupt PC government has already sold us so far down the river we will never recover. It’s every man for himself time. I know my time is near, I intend to hold out as long as possible but I really have little hope……..Just sayin’

    Report Post » BIGJAYINPA  
  • Temporal
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:06am

    I’m sure the new “advisor” will help decide how to spend billions in U.S. aid. Our tax dollars at work!

    Report Post »  
    • Delta D-5-3
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:31am

      Isn’t Mahmoud Abbas the FIRST person President Obama called after being elected?? Yes, he is folks. Now what does THAT tell you…………

      Report Post » Delta D-5-3  
  • Commerce Exchange
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 6:03am

    Things are getting hotter in the Middle East, Abbas has become irrelevant, and the other option is the Hamas which Israel will not deal with, on the other hand better to face the facts on really is rulling the PA

    Report Post » Commerce Exchange  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 4:43am

    I don’t know why in the world we have Eric Holder as the USA Attorney General, since he was second in command under that woman(?) Janet Reno – when Jimmy Carter was the loser President. We now have another loser President, Obama, and while he has a very nice smile, he doesn’t have a clue on how to be a Leader. His main focus is to make sure that the average America employee has less Social Security taxes withheld, than before. Wow! That 20 bucks extra a week will make everyone happy. Maybe a few of us can buy that winning lottery ticket. So what if the Social Security payments to grandparents and parents are now underfunded? As I said before, some of us will win the lottery will be able to support our grandparents and parents in grand style.

    Report Post »  
  • notmeatglennbeckdotcom
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 3:14am

    Just because he wears a suit the LEFT thinks this guy is different.

    You can take the Terrorist out of the PLO, but you can’t take the PLO out of the terrorist.

    Report Post »  
  • The Third Archon
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 2:48am

    Israel has had terrorists for prime minister (anyone remember Golda Meir?), how is this any different?

    Report Post » The Third Archon  
  • nzkiwi
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 2:23am

    While I have the greatest sympathy for Gilad Shalit and his family, releasing 1000 terrorists in exchange for him was a terrible mistake. It will have serious repercussions for quite some time to come.

    Report Post »  
  • Arc
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 2:16am

    …..and the connections continue to expose themselves.. ABBAS took over for Yassar ARAFAT. One of ARRAFAT’S advisors was non other than Rashid Kahlidi. Rashid Kahlidi gave a Eulogy for another Operative for ARRAFAT SALAH KHALAF ( aka ABU IYAD). Khalaf was directly involved in the planning and execution of Black September’s assault on the Israeli Delegation to the Olympics 1972 at Munich.
    Khalaf also masterminded the 1973 assault on the Saudi Embassy in Khartoum where American Ambassador Cleo Noel and George C Moore were killed along with Belgian Guy Eid on the orders of ARAFAT. Before they were murdered, they requested that SIRHAN SIRHAN be released. Bill Ayers & Bernadine Dohrn dedicated a 1974 book called “Prairie Firs” to Sirhan Sirhan.

    Obama, Ayers, Khalidi, Arrafat, Khalaf Other neighbors in Obama’s community were, Muhammed Ali, Eugene Sawyer, and Louis FARRAKHAN……..( but Obama says “ Ayers was just a guy who lived in my neighborhood”

    Film at 11

    Report Post » Arc  
    • NOTAMUSHROOM
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 7:04am

      Yup. Just goes to show that the tides of history are much longer and larger than our simple little lives. We always need to step waaaay back and have an educated look at it in order to see the truth. This is why Progressives need to change history and why they teach our children LIES. Most people are just too lazy to go get the TRUTH. It is out there. Thank you Glenn Beck.

      Report Post »  
  • A Conservatarian
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 1:50am

    Imagine no American interference… Israel could have continued their war in Lebanon and used overwhelming force and crushed hamas, they could have leveled whatever parts of east jerusalem or the gaza strip looking for Schalit they wanted, they could stop having to listen to president’s like odumbass telling them to go back to the borders of 1967. Instead, there are those that want intervention and you cry foul when the opposition intervenes, just not in the way they like? A pity, they should‘ve listened to the founding father’s a little more.

    Report Post » A Conservatarian  
  • TXPilot
    Posted on January 3, 2012 at 1:46am

    Whats the problem? Obama has plenty of former terrorists around him, so why can’t Abbas have some too?

    Report Post » TXPilot  
    • AJAYW
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 5:41am

      TXPilot
      Well put

      Report Post »  
    • Regdunlop
      Posted on January 3, 2012 at 10:32am

      Didn’t he say to judge him by the people he surrounded himself with? Wonder if he regrets saying that.

      Report Post »  

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