An open letter to Jason Greenblatt

Arafat and Erekat [Image Source]

Mr. Greenblatt, as you are undoubtedly aware, my husband Arnold and I have been fighting for justice since 2012 for our murdered child Malki. 

On the 27th of this month she would have celebrated her 35th birthday. Instead we plan to visit her grave on that day. 

Hamas operative Ahlam Tamimi murdered her along with seven other Jewish babies and children and eight men and women in the 2001 Jerusalem Sbarro bombing.

Tamimi, released by prime minister Netanyahu in the Shalit Deal, is now a fugitive from the US Department of Justice which has demanded her extradition by Jordan. She is one of the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists with a five million dollar reward on her head.

Between 2017 and 2019, in your capacity as President Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East, you were well positioned to assist us in our struggle. You could have exerted additional pressure on King Abdullah II to abide by the extradition treaty his father and the US signed in 1995. Jordan has been flouting its legal obligations under that valid agreement since 2017.

You were apparently busy with other more pressing matters and never so much as tweeted a word in our direction. But somehow, astoundingly, you found it worthwhile to respond to Tamimi herself [here].

And today, you found time to tweet only hours after the announcement of Saeb Erekat's death. You conveyed "deep condolences" to his family, wished them "comfort and strength" and praised the deceased for having "tried hard to represent his people".

In truth, as you surely know, Erekat was a vile defender of Hamas and a champion of the rights of Palestinian terrorists incarcerated in Israeli prisons. 

On April 6, 2014, the official Palestinian Authority newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadida quoted Erekat saying:

"I am telling everyone, on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas and the [PLO] Executive Committee, that Hamas is a Palestinian movement which never was and never will be a terrorist movement." 

On October 19, 2016 in the same paper, he urged these sentiments:

“Our brave prisoners, who gave and sacrificed their freedom for Palestine and its freedom, are worthy of aid, support and constant activity by us in order to release them and put an end to their suffering.” 

According to the quote, translated by Palestinian Media Watch, Erekat added that the Palestinian people “bow our heads in admiration and honor of the prisoners’ sacrifices, for their acts of heroism, and for their ongoing battle with the occupation.”

Mr. Greenblatt, you are a disappointment to your people and should be ashamed of yourself. Sadly, I no longer expect that of you.

Good-bye to Jason Greenblatt, a not-so-special representative

Ahlam Tamimi

Jason Greenblatt, the outgoing US Special Representative for International Negotiations, praised Israel and Jordan for their peace treaty which is 25 years old this week.

“The efforts of our two allies - Israel and Jordan - to find common ground and work to build a more peaceful and mutually beneficial relationship for their people is important,” tweeted Greenblatt, who is being fondly farewelled these days.

Sorry but I'm going to be a party pooper: Jason Greenblatt doesn't deserve a warm send-off.

First, it is abhorrent for him to refer to Israel and Jordan both as "our two allies" as if they are equally important and loyal to the US. 

Jordan has, for three years, defied the demand of the US Department of Justice to extradite the confessed mass murderer, Hamas operative, Ahlam Tamimi.

Jordan's current regime has declared the extradition treaty which its previous king signed with the US in 1995, to be null and void. The US says it is perfectly valid.

In 2011, Jordan's dictator, a.k.a.King Abdullah II, gave a red carpet welcome to Tamimi, murderer of eight Jewish adults and eight children in the 2001 Jerusalem Sbarro pizzeria bombing. He has since given her refuge and the unfettered freedom to thrive, travel and incite to terrorism.

It is appalling that Greenblatt swept all that under the carpet to commemorate the peace treaty between terror-abetting Jordan and Israel.

Lest anybody doubt that Greenblatt is aware of the above, please note: My husband and I tweeted Greenblatt not once, not twice but numerous times detailing Tamimi's crimes, the DOJ's futile attempts to bring her to justice and Jordan's stalwart refusal to extradite her. 

We shared with him, of course, that our fifteen year old daughter, Malki, perished in that attack.

Greenblatt has never deigned to respond to us in any manner or form.

It is particularly baffling that a man who professes to be G-d- and Torah-fearing would ignore a heartfelt plea for assistance in achieving justice.

Perhaps in his new role, devoid of honorifics, Mr. Greenblatt will see fit to acknowledge us and our fight.