The Palestinian Authority and Hamas welcomed the bodies of 93 terrorists handed over by Israel in a pro-peace gesture, the Jerusalem Post reports. The move deeply upset the chairman of Israel's Almagor Terror Victims Associations, which petitioned the country's Supreme Court against the release and the subsequent glorification of the terrorists.
Approximately 2,000 Palestinians attended a "national rally" on behalf of the "martyrs" at the Palestinian presidential compound in Ramallah, including Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and other government officials. While Hamas members attended the Ramallah ceremony, their primary event was held in Gaza. Hamas members fired 21-bullet salutes in honor of the suicide attackers, as a "salutation for their sacrifices."
Almagor Terror Victims Association filed a petition against the diplomatic move late Wednesday night, but it was denied by Israel's Supreme Court without a hearing. The group also said that it would press Israel's parliament, the Knesset, to remedy the "lack of legal status for victims of terrorist murderers, while the Palestinians have the right to build monuments to the murderers in [Palestinian-controlled West Bank] Area A and B territories."
The PA frequently glorifies suicide bombers while delegitimizing Israel's right to exist, according to Palestinian Media Watch. On May 2, the Palestinian government hosted a soccer tournament for al-Quds University in Abu Dis, naming teams after famous terrorists. A May 15 op-ed in the PA's official daily called Israel's founding "the greatest theft in history" and continued with anticipation of Israel's destruction. PA TV also frequently broadcasts programs and music videos calling for attacks against Israel.