Equipo Nizkor - UNSC S/2016/286 - Letter from Israel regarding the celebration by the Palestinian Authority of the "Coastal Road Massacre" of 1978.

United Nations
Security Council

S/2016/286

Distr.: General
29 March 2016
Original: English

Identical letters dated 28 March 2016 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council

I am writing to draw your attention to an egregious demonstration of the ongoing glorification of murder and incitement to violence being conducted by official institutions of the Palestinian Authority.

In a week in which we mourned the death of 35 people killed by terrorists in Brussels, the Palestinian Authority has chosen to "celebrate" the anniversary of a massacre of Israelis carried out by Palestinian terrorists. The Palestinian Authority held high-profile public events marking the heinous "Coastal Road Massacre" of 1978, in which 38 innocent civilians, including 13 children, were brutally murdered. In this cold-blooded and calculated attack, a team of Palestinian terrorists from the Fatah movement led by Dalal Mughrabi shot and killed an American tourist, then hijacked a bus full of civilians and massacred the passengers.

One such event honouring the terrorists was organized by Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement, which invited guests to "mark the thirty-eighth anniversary of the death as Martyrs (Shahids) of fighter Dalal Mughrabi, 'the Bride of Palestine,' and her comrades who carried out the self-sacrificing operation." This event was hosted by the Palestinian Red Crescent, an organization officially recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

As we conclude the sixtieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women dedicated to women's empowerment, the Palestinians have chosen to elevate Dalal Mughrabi into a symbol of Palestinian women.

Mughrabi has been transformed into a national hero in Palestinian society. For years, she has been held up as a role model for young Palestinians, especially young women. Schools, summer camps and town squares have been named after Mughrabi, who has the blood of 38 innocent human beings on her hands.

This sickening display of the Palestinian leadership celebrating the lives of terrorists who murdered innocent civilians in cold blood is taking place while Israel is under daily attack. Since September 2015, Palestinian terrorists have murdered 34 civilians and injured hundreds.

In fact, there is a direct link between the glorification of terrorists such as Mughrabi and the tide of terror we face today. This non-stop incitement is stoking the flames of hatred and violence and fuelling the daily attacks being carried out by Palestinian terrorists, all with the encouragement of the Palestinian Authority.

The sad truth is that peace will not come as long as President Abbas and the Palestinian leadership continue to glorify violence and encourage a culture of death instead of seeking ways to improve the lives of their people. It is unacceptable that generation after generation of young Palestinians are being educated to hate Israelis and to idolize terrorists.

I call on the Security Council to condemn the Palestinian Authority's disgraceful celebration of the murder of innocent Israelis and to speak out against the ongoing campaign of incitement.

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter distributed as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Danny Danon
Ambassador
Permanent Representative

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29Mar16

Letter from Israel regarding the celebration by the Palestinian Authority of the "Coastal Road Massacre" of 1978