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Miriam Farhat, in front of a poster of her dead terrorist sons.
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners December 10, 2005 |
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US President George W. Bush may insist that Palestinian Arab mothers only want peace and tranquility for themselves and their children, but Hamas' newest Palestinian Legislative Council candidate stands for something else.
Mariam Farhat, 56, has over the past five years become a symbol of Palestinian motherhood amidst the ongoing terrorist war to eradicate the Jewish state. Farhat has not only given three of her sons for the cause, but has actively participated in their training as well, earning her the moniker "Mother of Martyrs."
Farhat, 56, has strong militant credentials, including an appearance carrying a gun in a video in which she advised one of her sons, Mohammed, on tactics before he attacked a Jewish settlement, killing five Israelis before he was shot dead in the assault on a post in the Gaza Strip in 2002.
Farhat's eldest son, Nidal, was killed in 2003 as he was preparing for another attack. A third son, Rawad, died earlier this year in an Israeli air strike on his rocket-carrying car. Three other sons are still alive, for now.
Farhat, popularly known as Umm Nidal and regarded by Palestinians as a "mother of martyrs", said: "I am pleased that Hamas trusted me and I declare I will be at the service of my movement." She was seen by Palestinian analysts as a sure vote-winner, al-Jazeera reported.
Farhat said Hamas' decision to participate in Palestinian politics did not contradict its ultimate military goals to replace Israel. "The jihadist project completes the political one and the political project cannot be completed without jihad," she told Reuters, using the Arabic term for "holy struggle" against the Jewish state, indicating that military means alone could complete the job.
Jerusalem Newswire contributed to this report.
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