No Remorse: Freed Palestinian Terrorist Tells Reuters the Rabbi He Plotted to Kill Deserves to Die
- Posted on December 21, 2011 at 2:07am by
Sharona Schwartz
- Print »
- Email »
Salah Hamouri photo from a French Communist Party website
After his release from Israeli prison Sunday, former Palestinian prisoner Salah Hamouri gave a revealing interview to Reuters.
Hamouri was arrested, convicted and imprisoned in 2005 for plotting to assassinate the former chief rabbi of Israel and prominent spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. Hamouri was one of the 550 prisoners Israel released over the weekend to complete the deal it negotiated in October with Hamas for the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
A member of the militant Marxist-Leninist group the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Hamouri says he and his two accomplices were right in aiming to kill Yosef, who is now 91-years-old.
Hamouri says he still believes Yosef deserves to die, Reuters reports:
Israel asks most Palestinian prisoners it frees ahead of serving out their sentences to sign a pledge forswearing future involvement in violence, but not all stick to their word.
Hamouri’s lack of repentance seemed an example of how the symbolic swap which initially stirred some optimism, wound up changing little on the ground, where conflict, fueled by months of diplomatic stalemate, persists.
Interviewed at his home in the West Bank, Hamouri cited hateful remarks made by Rabbi Yosef in the past as justification for sticking to his own militant views.
“This man is and will remain a symbol of racism and fanaticism in Israel,” Hamouri said.
Rabbi Yosef stirred controversy in August 2010 when he said in a sermon that God should strike Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other “haters of Israel” with a plague. Reuters quoted him then:
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
“Abu Mazen and all these evil people should perish from this earth,” Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, spiritual head of the religious Shas party in Israel’s government, said in a sermon late Saturday, using Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s popular name.
“God should strike them and these Palestinians — evil haters of Israel — with a plague,” the 89-year-old rabbi said in his weekly address to the faithful, excerpts of which were broadcast on Israeli radio Sunday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distanced himself from those comments. “The comments do not reflect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s view or the position of the government of Israel,” Netanyahu’s office said last year in a statement.
Ironically, it was Rabbi Yosef himself who gave the green light for his would-be assassin’s early release. Because Hamouri is a citizen of France, since 2009 French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been asking the Israeli government to release him as a “goodwill gesture.” After the Shalit deal was reached and Hamouri’s name was one of those considered for early release, the Netanyahu government punted the question to the rabbi who, after meeting with the French ambassador, approved the release. According to Ynet, Hamouri was serving out the last months of his sentence.
This isn’t the first time one of the released prisoners has stated they’d commit their terrorist act again. This kind of talk seems to be the rule, not the exception, which is not surprising in light of the powerful and consistent messages of incitement from both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.
A new book “Deception: Betraying the Peace Process,” by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik of Palestinian Media Watch provides evidence of the glorification of terrorism by senior Palestinian Authority officials. By contrast, when the same officials speak to the West they present a peaceful image. The authors offer multiple examples of summer camps, sports tournaments and other events named after terrorists by the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Another example in the book demonstrating the honor granted to families of terrorists: the Palestinian Authority Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Karake bestowed an award on a Palestinian mother, Latifa Abu Hmeid whose four sons were serving 18 life sentences in Israeli prison. Handing her the “Shield of Resolve and Giving,” Karake said:
“The Palestinian mother is a central partner in the struggle, by virtue of what she has given and continues to give. It is she who gave birth to the fighters, and she deserves that we bow to her in salute and in honor.”
More examples from the book can be seen on GBTV in a December 7th interview Glenn Beck conducted with author Itamar Marcus.
The now released prisoner Hamouri’s attitude and criminal activities might be acceptable in Palestinian society but are not in Europe, raising the question: why did the French government intercede on his behalf in the first place? Fluent in French, he told Reuters he wanted to travel to France to personally thank those who campaigned for his release.
“Freedom represents life, and to be free now, surrounded with my friends and family, I feel alive and hopeful again,” he said.
Comments (34)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 710 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 562 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 384 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 376 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 364 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 376 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 384 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 312 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 149 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 376 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
barryfadams
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:51pmWhat Rabbi Yosef says usually comes true. The problem is that, while they’re dying from the plague, they’ll probably go to Israel for treatment.
Report Post »wntsmallgov
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:31amthe last time the world accepted the hatred toward the Jews and Christians, Hitler and Stalin were in power. Stalin could have cared less about the Jews he saw an oppertunity for a land grab and he did just that. Patton was right, we should have kicked them back to Mascow when we had the battle tested forces there. Hitler was another nut job all together. The hatred I see with OWS is equal to Hitlers actions. IF we let this hapen a World War will come.
Report Post »Balpit
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 4:17pmIn a Communist state, everyone’s equal: poor, overworked, oppressed. The only ones “more equal than others” are the dictator and his entourage: rich, relaxing comfortably while everyone else does all the hard work, doing all the oppressing, silencing dissent, etc.
Anyone who sides with the OWS movement and praises Communism is being contradictory: The 99% of a Communist country are TRULY oppressed, and the 1% keep them that way. Some businesses do use unfair practices, but at least they don’t kill you for speaking out against them the way a dictator would.
Report Post »Balpit
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 4:25pmWhat the hey?! This was supposed to go on the Whoopi topic!
Report Post »tharpdevenport
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:53pmAsk them to sign a pledge to no future violence against them?
You might as well have a male teenager caught masturbating sign a pledge to not masturbate again.
Report Post »Angelteam02
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:00pmAs a former U.S.Marine,the Israeli soldier (Gilad Shalit) is a “COWARD”… I could not and would not want my county to negotiate my release for any terrorist let alone “550 of them” who are only going to attack my country in the future…I’d rather Die…I love Israel but shame on you….
Report Post »tzion
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 8:36pmWho said he supported it. Last I checked it was his family that pushed for the exchange.
Report Post »Angelteam02
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:51pmReally Mr.“TZION” and where did you get that information from please sent me that information on facebook my name is Edward J. Ligenza from Lake County,il…….He’s a Fricken “COWARD” and his family should know better….Sempre-Fi or Die….Never-Ever-Give-Up….
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 11:36amRabbi Ovadia Yosef:
Report Post »God heard the prayers many years ago. He cast them and their progeny out to become Minions of the Dark one Allah (aka) the blood god.
smackdown33
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 11:35amFunny how the media manipulates. Here’s a similar story that should be told along side this one. There are many more, just like this one, that occur quite routinely in settlements. Now, these go against the usual practice of perpetual Jewish victimhood, but they are no less true, and just as egregious. Jews are every bit as inhumane as their opposition. It could be argued that Jews are more inhumane considering their occupation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Patriarchs_massacre
Report Post »WesG
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 2:28pmThe difference is simple. When an insane person acts out in an inhuman way it is condemned by Jews or the Christians. When it is done by a muslim it is praised. Ashame they can’t just kill themselves and be in paradise while leaving the rest of us alone. The world would be a better place.
Report Post »tzion
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 8:35pmSmack, maybe you should follow your own link and read the part about Israel’s response. Things like immediate condemnation by both the government and most of the public really puts a damper on your point. Palestinians and the French government wanted this guy put back on the streets as though he’d done nothing wrong.
Report Post »barryfadams
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 3:48pmBaruch Goldstein was a doctor in Hebron, a descendant of survivors of the Hebron Massacre of 1929. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1929_Hebron_massacre.
Report Post »Dr. Goldstein received information from Israeli intelligence of an impending massacre in Hebron that week. He asked the army what they were doing in light of the information. They replied that they were preparing makeshift hospitals for the wounded, but nothing else. Therefore, Dr. Goldstein went to the Cave of the Patriarchs to pre-empt the would be-murderers. While they were praying for the success of their terrorist mission, he mowed them down, thus saving the residents from a repeat of the 1929 massacre. He paid for his selfless act with his life, when some of the terrorists who managed to remain alive stabbed him to death with the knives with which they were planning to kill the residents of Hebron.
That is the true, unofficial story.
lynnissmart
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 10:45amGiving this guy any attention is stupid………..he sounds like a schmuck!
Report Post »freedomfrom
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 10:16amAll religion originated from man’s desire to control others..(women)
Report Post »notreally
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 9:15amIslam was born of hate. It’s demise will be the result of hate — if we don’t sit around waiting for them to outbreed us.
12/8/09 Al-Shabab TV: Egyptian cleric Hamdan Badr, of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, quoted General Khaled Ibn Al-Walid (592-642) who said, upon his invasion of Byzantium (India, the Balkans and Spain to follow): “It was thirst that made us leave our homes. We have heard that Byzantine blood is the tastiest, and we have come to drink it.” This is cleric Badr’s justification for that invasion: “This didn’t constitute aggression because we were defending the borders of the Islamic state. We are commanded to enjoin people to worship Allah. That is the mission of every Muslim in this life.”
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 9:07amIt‘s amazing how Arabs can say anything hatefull and it’s OK. However, the can’t stand it when someone calls on God to defeat them. Oh no, that’s grounds for murder. They need to remember-what’s good for the goose, is good for the gander. Oh well. they will figure it out, soon.
Report Post »sandy21957
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 8:24amThey are like the Borg, mindless drones wanting to consume all that is in their path.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 6:29amThe Anti-Christ has been revealed, his name is Allah ….
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 7:25amBut look the good side, some will tell you it is no problem if people like this have nukes….
Report Post »Are you buying it?
schlepnier
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 5:27amHmmm so lets get the score here…
the rabbi saysin effect-sure wish god would do something about these evil SOBs
Meanwhile in palestinain leadership they are saying – go forth and kill as many as you can, in any manner that you can, regaurdles of age, gender or position and we will praise you for it.
Report Post »1casawizard
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 3:08amThe opponents of Israel have nothing to live for, and are willing to die for anything. That says alot about their culture.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 5:32amYes, we call it brainwashing.
Report Post »Hzurdaddy
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 3:05amYa‘ gotta’ admire his work ethic–this dude wants to EARN his virgins…
Report Post »1casawizard
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 3:12amhis 72 tranny virgins or his 72 year old man virgin might be what he gets.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 5:33amSilence! I keel you!
Report Post »Favored93
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 10:37amHAHAHAHA
Report Post »The “vergins” are all men!!!! What a paradise for the religion of peace!!! HAHAHAHAHA
1casawizard
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 2:57amMy question I’ve never seen answered is why the hatred of the Jewish people. Why can’t they be left alone on their small piece of land? The only thing I can come up with is they are brilliant and brave fighters through the centuries who have defended their property. Maybe we can learn something from them.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 5:34amEver pick up a Bible? ‘Splains everything Lucy…
Report Post »tzion
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 7:18amThe hatred has no true reason anymore. The original reasons have long been forgotten yet the hatred remains, having woven itself into the hearts and minds of so many. They then seek to rationalize their hate using current events, allowing the cycle of hate to repeat. The original reason might have been tied to the Christian belief that Jews were guilty of deicide (god killing), but later Jews came to be accused of ritual murder and causing epidemics. Initially people felt that these things must be true because of how evil the Jews are. Over time, Jews were seen as evil because of actions they never committed. It a cycle of self-perpetuating hatred.
Report Post »Personally, I believe the true reason Christianity came to hate the Jews was as a form of scapegoating. They believed that the Jews, being of the same beliefs as Jesus, should have accepted Christianity immediately. The fact that they didn’t could only mean two things in their eyes: Christianity isn’t the heir of Israelite covenant it claims to be, or the Jews have purposefully rejected the true religion and therefore had committed blasphemy against G-d. Determined that their view was right, they decided to demonstrate the inferiority of Judaism through example.
olddog
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 2:48amI have kept up with the Israel Palestinian crisis for 50 years and have never been able to agree with the palestinians..Israel should have executed the prisoners, not released them..
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 3:31amYes
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 2:22amAgain Israel released criminals that are going to attack Israel again & again
Report Post »Something is missing .
Israel is a weak country when it hands over negotiations to other countries about the release of criminals .
WAR PIGS CRAWLING
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 3:44amNo…No…No…don’t worry….Barack Obama supports Israeli sovereignty……..Oh…that’s right….Ahhhh….never mind…..Yasser Arafat said we’re ALL GOOD…. give PIECE a chance…
Report Post »