Terrorist released in Schalit deal named PA adviser
PA president's new local gov't adviser was former Force 17 commander, jailed for involvement in deadly terror attacks.
By KHALED ABU TOAMEHPalestinian prisoners enter Gaza 311(photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday issued a presidential decree appointing a prisoner who was released in the recent Hamas prisoner-exchange deal for Gilad Schalit as his adviser for local government.The former prisoner, Mahmoud Awad Damra, was sentenced in 2006 to 15 years in prison for his role in terrorist attacks against Israel.RELATED:Abbas meets prisoners released in Schalit deal Ex-Palestinian prisoner: No regrets on Yosef plot Damra served as commander of the PA’s Force 17 security force under PA president Yasser Arafat.Two years ago, while Damra was still in prison, Abbas decided to promote him to the rank of major-general.Damra was found guilty of planning and logistic coordination of numerous terrorist attacks in which many people were killed.Among those killed in the attacks were US citizens Esh- Kodesh Gilmore and the couple Rabbi Binyamin (son of former MK Meir Kahane) and Talia Kahane in 2000.
