Security prisoners to be honored with PA street names
Khaled Abu Toameh , THE JERUSALEM POST Jul. 23, 2009
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1248277866049&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull

The Palestinian Authority plans to name dozens of West Bank streets after
Palestinian security prisoners who were involved in murdering Israelis or
carrying out terrorist attacks, a PA minister said on Wednesday.

Issa Qaraqi, who was recently appointed prisoners affairs minister in Salaam
Fayad's government, said the streets would be named after at least 100
Palestinians who were serving terms of 20 years or more in Israeli jails.

Qaraqi is also head of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, a Bethlehem-based
group that defends the rights of security prisoners and documents Israeli
"violations" of human rights in prisons.

He said the decision was taken as part of the PA government's solidarity
with the prisoners, especially those who have been sentenced to lengthy
terms or life in prison.

Qaraqi said the initiative to name streets after security prisoners would be
launched next week in coordination between his ministry and the PA's
Ministry for Local Government.

"This is the legitimate right of the Palestinians," he explained. "We have
the honor and duty to honor our prisoners in recognition of their sacrifices
and steadfastness in Israeli prisons."

Many streets in West Bank cities and villages have already been named after
Palestinian "martyrs" who were killed in clashes with Israel over the past
few decades.