OSLO — A local politician in Stavanger, Norway, called on his municipality to sever its sister city partnership with Nablus over the latters glorification of Palestinian terrorism.
In the aftermath of a recent report by Palestinian Media Watch that Nablus named a city square after terrorist Naif Abu Sharakh, Stavanger Councilman Mats Danielsen told the Rogalands Avis newspaper, Our friendship cities should share our values, norms and customs. This is proof of the contrary. Our sister Nablus honors terrorists.
In 2003, Sharakh was behind a double suicide bombing that killed 23 Israelis. A monument honoring Sharakh in the West Bank city of Nablus is labeled Palestine, but includes the territory of all of Israel.
“The monument,” said Danielsen, “is a clear sign that the terrorist was working to remove Israel to make room for a Palestinian state. This would have meant that our second sister city Netanya [in Israel] is a legitimate target for terrorists who want to kill Jews.”
Concerns over Palestinian terrorism spawning from Nablus led the city council of Boulder, Colo., to reject Nabluss bid to become Boulders sister city in June, 2013.