Palestinian Authority Chairman, Abu Mazen, called convicted senior terrorist Yasser Abu Bakr this evening (Saturday) to celebration of his early release from prison as part of the hostage exchange, invoking responses of disgust and anger by several Israeli public officials.
The Released Terrorist Was Meant to Serve Over 100 Years in Prison
Abu Bakr was affiliated with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, which is associated with Fatah. He had served 23-years in prison out of the approximately 115-year sentence he received for his involvement in several horrific terror attacks. Among other acts of terror, Abu Bakr was responsible for the bombing in Netanya in March 2002, in which Israel Yahia z”l and nine-month-old baby Avia Malka z”l were murdered. He was also convicted of murdering police officer Konstantin Danilov and attempting to organize a slew of additional attacks.
“Abu Mazen Cannot Be a Partner to Any Process”
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, Avigdor Lieberman, referred to Abu Mazen as a “Holocaust denier,” writing: “Anyone who embraces terrorists with blood on their hands is a terrorist themselves and cannot be a partner to any process, let alone supervise the Rafah Crossing.”
“An Enemy and Terror Supporter Then and Now”
Knesset member Bezalel Smotrich also responded to the events with a scathing post on X: “Mahmoud Abbas has always been and remains an enemy, a supporter of terror, and an encourager of terrorism. The authority he leads has always been and remains a terrorist organization, not a ‘partner’ for anything. His phone call tonight to a murderer of Jews is a wake-up call to those who still delude themselves about the PA as an alternative to Hamas in Gaza after the war. It won’t happen. Not in Gaza or in Judea and Samaria.”
“It’s Time to Change the System”
Former minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also joined the fiery criticism of Mazen and the hostage deal on X: “You release thousands of murderers and terrorists. You stop the war in Gaza. You withdraw from Netzarim and the northern Gaza Strip. You hand bulldozers over to Hamas. And of course, don’t forget to tell us they’re deterred. It’s time to change the system.”
