Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Congress has urged the Palestinian Authority to fire a
leading official for praising a killer in the West Bank.

Five senior House members have called on PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to
dismiss his aide, Sultan Abu Al Einan, a leader in the ruling Fatah
movement. The members said Al Einan congratulated the killing of an Israeli
Jew in the northern West Bank in April.

“President Abbas, allowing this type of incitement and hatemongering to
take place within your ranks is intolerable if you are truly dedicated to
non-violence,” the letter by the House members said. “We ask that you
publicly and officially denounce and condemn Mr. Abu Al Einein’s remarks
at once and remove him from his position in your government.

The May 15 letter was signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman
Ed Royce as well as the ranking Democrat, Rep. Eliot Engel. Others who
signed were subcommittee chairs Ted Deutch, Nita Lowey and Brad Sherman.

Abu Al Einan has been head of the Palestinian Council for Non-Government
Organization Affairs. Several weeks ago, Abu Al Einan, a longtime Fatah
militia commander in Lebanon, said the Palestinian killer of an Israeli was
a “heroic fighter.” Fatah also praised the Palestinian attacker on its
Facebook page.

The House letter came in wake of a report by Palestinian Media Watch,
which monitors the PA-controlled media. PMW has regularly testified on
Palestinian affairs in Congress.

The U.S. lawmakers, who recently visited the West Bank, said Abbas had
relayed his “absolute commitment to non-violence in resolving the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” The House members did not link their demand
to U.S. assistance to the PA.

“We look forward to seeing you take action on this matter and working
with you to create a peaceful and prosperous future for the Palestinian
people,” the letter said.

  Abbas gets heat from Congress after top aide praised Israeli’s killer, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mahmoud Abbas, Sultan Abu Al Einan