Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas plans to promote terrorist Mahmoud Damra, the former head of the PA's elite “Force 17,” to the rank of Major-General. Damra is serving time in an Israeli prison for his involvement in multiple murders. The promotion was publicized in the PA daily Al-Quds.

Damra served in Force 17 and later in the presidential guard. He was wanted by Israel since 2000 for terrorist activity, and was arrested in 2006.

As head of a cell of Tanzim terrorists, Damra, also known as Abu Awad, initiated several terrorist attacks targeting soldiers and civilians. Among the attacks he coordinated were:

• A shooting attack in Jerusalem in 2000 that killed 25-year-old Esh Kodesh Gillmore
• A shooting in 2000 that killed Neve Tzuf resident Sara Lisha and IDF soldiers Amit Zana and Elad Levenstein.
• A 2000 shooting at the Tapuach Junction in Samaria that murdered 40-year-old Ariel Jeraffi.
• A shooting on Highway 443 that killed Eli Cohen of Modiin.
• A shooting near Ofra in December 2000 that killed Rabbi Binyamin and Talia Kahane and wounded three of their six children.
• A shooting at the French Hill junction in Jerusalem that did not cause injuries.

Damra also organized shooting attacks on IDF soldiers in the Ramallah area during Operation Defensive Shield. In addition, he planned bomb attacks, and was seen firing an RPG at an IDF tank.
(IsraelNationalNews.com)