WASHINGTON (JTA) — Two Jewish Congress members hosted a discussion on Palestinian incitement.
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives terrorism committee, and Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.), a House appropriator, hosted a presentation May 6 by Palestinian Media Watch, an Israeli group that monitors what it alleges is Palestinian incitement.
The group is running an ad in the Washington area this week charging the relatively moderate Palestinian Authority leadership with backing the naming of public areas and events after terrorists.
Palestinian Media Watch "provides a great service by monitoring incidences of Palestinian incitement, including the promotion of terrorism, the glorification of murdering innocents and intolerance," Rothman told JTA.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas this weekend committed to fighting incitement as part of renewed indirect peace talks.
In the past, PA spokesmen have noted that streets in Israel are named after pre-Independence Jewish fighters who targeted Arab innocents and British troops.
In announcing the session, Sherman said that "It is time for all leaders in the region — Israeli, Palestinian and Arab — to support efforts for peace" and that "this discussion will focus on the efforts of Palestinian leaders."
