Denmark demands money back from Palestinian town that honored terrorist

Denmark canceled aid to a Palestinian NGO that named a youth and women’s center after a convicted terrorist.

Denmark canceled its funding to a Palestinian NGO after reports surfaced that the same NGO named a youth center in the town of Burqa after a terrorist who killed 37 Jews. The Danish government also demanded the NGO return its money in the wake of a growing international outcry over the issue.

“I am outraged that the WATC (Women’s Technical Affairs Committee), which claims to work for human rights, has not only glorified a terrorist, but also abused the trust of a generous people like the Danish,” said Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen, in a statement posted on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. “It is completely unacceptable and I can’t distance myself strongly enough from it. Denmark and Danish tax kroner must under no circumstances be used for anything that glorifies or promotes terrorists in any way.”

Palestinian Media Watch originally reported that the Palestinian NGO Woman’s Technical Affairs Committee dedicated a youth and women’s center in the town of Burqa after terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, who led a 1978 bus hijacking that resulted in the murder of 37 civilians. Denmark follows Norway in demanding its money back, after the NGO adamantly refused to rename the center.

“The choice of this name was meant to honor young Martyr Dalal Mughrabi, who resisted the occupation and hoped for the freedom and independence of her people,” Burqa Village Council Chairman Sami Daghlas told the London based Al-Quds Al-Arabi. “We, as Palestinians, are always proud of those who sacrificed for their homeland, whether they are Martyrs, prisoners, expelled, or wounded.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the move. “I also contacted the Danish Prime Minister and spoke with him at length. As a result of this conversation, the Danish Ambassador in Israel has announced that Denmark is also withdrawing its financing from this body,” said Netanyahu in a statement released to the press before taking off for Liberia, where he will attend the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) conference.

By: Tzvi Lev, World Israel News