Palestinian Authority hails murderer of young Israeli father as ‘martyr’

One day after Muhammad Tareq Dar Yusuf murdered a young Israeli father, the Palestinian Authority and Mahboud Abbas’ Fatah party declared the killer a “martyr.”

By: World Israel News Staff

On Friday, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and its ruling Fatah party celebrated Muhammad Tareq Dar Yusuf and the heinous murder he committed, cutting short the life of 31-year-old Israeli father of two, Yotam Ovadia.

On Thursday, Yusuf snuck into the Jewish community of Adam in Samaria, where he stabbed to death Ovadia and injured two others.

A day later, the PA declared Yusuf a “martyr,” reported Palestinian Media Watch based on comments published in the official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida.

Designation as a “shahid” brings with it honor and prestige in the Muslim tradition, in addition to entitling family members of the “martyr” to hefty payments for life under PA law, which includes graduated salary requirements for those who perpetrate violent crimes against Israelis.

In Yusuf’s case, the PA guidelines obligate the Palestinian government to pay his family a one-time grant of 6,000 shekels ($1,643) and a monthly allowance for life of around 1,400 shekels ($383).

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party also praised the murderer, posting a picture on its Facebook page last Friday with the caption, “Martyr Muhammad Tareq Dar Yusuf, … who carried out the stabbing operation.”

Each year, the PA pays out millions of dollars to terrorists in prison and the families of those who died committing their crimes, which range from failed bombings to horrific murders.

While the US and Israel have threatened the PA with financial repercussions if it doesn’t halt the practice, Abbas recently told the Palestinian media he would use the government’s “last penny” to make terror salary payments, even if it costs him his position as leader.