On Palestinian Glorification of Terrorists

“It is our right to preserve and maintain [the memory] of our fighters who sacrificed their lives for our sake and for the sake of the Palestinian cause. Honoring them in this way [by naming public places after them] is the least we can give them, and this is our right.” —Palestinian Authority Minister of Culture Siham Barghouti, Al-Ayyam, January 11, 2010

“Naming this square after Dalal Mughrabi [killed during the attack] is the commemoration of the symbolic figures of our struggle who have given their lives during the long struggle, and it is our right to commemorate them in our culture.” —A member of El-Bireh City Council in Ramallah

“It is not only missiles and rockets that endanger security and push peace further off. Words can also be dangerous. Whoever sponsors and supports naming a square in Ramallah in honor of a terrorist who murdered dozens of Israelis on the coastal road encourages terror.” —Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Galei Zahal (IDF radio), January 10, 2010