A branch of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah faction on Sunday called on Palestinians to delete security camera footage to thwart attempts by Israeli forces to apprehend those responsible for the drive-by shooting in Samaria earlier that day.
According to non-profit Israeli research institute Palestinian Media Watch, in a post on its official Facebook page within hours of the attack, Fatah’s Nablus branch wrote:
They added: “We salute you and your struggle” before signing off: “The Fatah Movement, Nablus branch.”
The Israeli Defense Forces are currently tracking down the terrorist responsible for the attack.
On the same day, Fatah’s Nablus branch further posted to Facebook a message in support of terror:
“The Fatah Movement’s Nablus branch emphasized that resistance is a natural right of the Palestinian people against the Zionist arrogance and the attacks against our people wherever they are, and particularly in Jerusalem.”
“Resistance” is the Palestinian euphemism for terrorism against Israelis, including the murder of civilians.
The statement continued: “In a press release issued by its information office today, Sunday, Fatah emphasized that the Palestinian people will not leave Jerusalem alone against the occupation forces and its settler herds.”
The statement was posted both to the Facebook page of Fatah’s Nablus branch and to the Facebook page of the Fatah Commission of Information and Culture.
Itamar Marcus, director of Palestinian Media Watch, commented: “Although proclaiming in English to the international community that it rejects terror, PMW has documented repeatedly that in Arabic the PA and Fatah routinely support, honor and encourage terrorists.”