Riyad al-Maliki
Riyad al-MalikiFlash 90

Without a trace of irony, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry is accusing Israel of providing continued support, funding and protection for 'settler' terrorist enclaves.

In an announcement published today (July 3) -- the second anniversary of the murder of Mohammed Abu Khdeir -- the Ministry claims that "the settlers and their terrorist organizations continue to commit crimes and acts of aggression against the Palestinian residents.

"Despite the measures taken by the 'occupation authorities' against these criminals and murderers, the authorities have no real intention of dismantling the settler terrorist organizations, to remove their funding sources or to fight those who advertisers religious rulings inciting the racist murder of Palestinians," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Palestinians also claim that, on the morning of July 3, Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian resident and damaged several vehicles at the Hawara checkpoint and at the Yitzhar Junction.

Mohammed Abu Khdeir was a 16-year-old Palestinian boy who was abducted and murdered by three Jewish extremists. His killers claimed that they murdered him in revenge for the kidnap and murder by Palestinians of the three Jewish teens, Naftali Frenkel (16), Gilad Shaer (16) and Eyal Yifrah (19).

The three were found guilty of murdering Abu Khdeir were sentenced to 20 years, life imprisonment and life imprisonment plus 20 years respectively. The murder has been condemned by all sectors of Israeli society.

In contrast, the kidnapping of the three Jewish boys was celebrated on Fatah's official Facebook page with cartoons and Palestinians celebrated by handing out candies in the streets. Hamas referred to the kidnappers as 'heroes'.

The PA continues to encourage terror in many ways, including providing stipends for families of terrorists.