Palestinian scouts’ leadership course named after murderer of 3: “Leader Baha Alyan Course”

PMW asks the World Organization of the Scout Movement to cancel the membership of the terror promoting Palestinian Scout Association The Palestinian Scout Association was accepted as a full member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement six months ago The Palestinian Scout Association displays on its website a picture of the murderer in a Palestinian Scout's uniform

Palestinian Scout Association website shows picture of terrorist murderer Alyan in Palestinian Scouts uniform,

in its article about the "Leader Baha Alyan Course"

[Website of the Palestinian Scout Association, Aug. 25, 2016]

Itamar Marcus





Palestinian Media Watch has requested of the World Organization of the Scout Movement that it cancel the membership of the terror promoting Palestinian Scout Association (PSA). (See copy of PMW's letter below)

This comes in response to the PSA's opening a course for training scout leaders named the "Martyr Leader Baha Alyan Course." Baha Alyan, a former Palestinian Scout Leader who is being presented as a role model for the new Palestinian Scout Leaders, was a terrorist murderer. He boarded a bus in Jerusalem last October armed with knives and a gun, and together with an accomplice he murdered three Israelis: Alon Govberg (51), Chaim Haviv (78) and Richard Lakin (76).

The course for scout leaders was organized by the Committee for Training and Developing Leadership of the PSA. Six months ago, the World Organization of the Scout Movement accepted the Palestinian Scout Association as a full member.

The PSA's choice to present a terrorist murderer as a role model for future scout leaders contradicts the goals and mission of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

PMW has sent the World Organization of the Scout Movement the following request to cancel the membership of the Palestinian Scout Association, so it will not be a co-sponsor of this terror promoting course:

Date: Aug. 28, 2016

Subject: Palestinian Scout Association terror promotion

Dear World Organization of the Scout Movement,



We would like to bring to your attention that the Palestinian Scout Association (PSA), which six months ago was accepted as a full member in the World Organization of the Scout Movement, is training its scout leaders to see a cold-blooded terrorist murderer as their role model. The PSA leadership training course that started last week is named the "Martyr - Leader Baha Alyan Course," after terrorist Alyan, who boarded a bus in Jerusalem last October and murdered three Israeli passengers on the bus: Alon Govberg (51), Chaim Haviv (78) and Richard Lakin (76).

We ask that you take steps to guarantee that the distinguished World Organization of the Scout Movement will have no part in training future scout leaders to see terrorist murderers as role models, by immediately canceling the PSA's membership. There is no greater impediment to peace than bringing up children to see murderers of innocent civilians as heroic role models. Should you allow the Palestinian Scout Association to keep its membership in the World Organization of the Scout Movement at the same time as they are presenting a murderer as a role model for future scout leaders, then your organization is effectively a co-sponsor of this terror promoting course.

We thank you and are waiting to hear what actions you have taken to distance yourselves from the terror-promoting Palestinian Scout Association.

Sincerely,

Itamar Marcus,

Director Palestinian Media Watch

The text next to Alyan's picture above reads:

"The Palestinian Scout Association Preparatory studies - Jerusalem The Committee for Developing Leadership Aug. 24-28, 2016 Martyr Baha Alyan Course" [Website of the Palestinian Scout Association, Aug. 25, 2016]





The following is an excerpt of an official PA daily article about the Palestinian scouts' course named after terrorist Baha Alyan, who killed 3:

"Yesterday the practical studies for the [scout] deputy unit leaders (preparation for the wood badge) - Martyr (Shahid) Leader Baha Alyan Course began at the Shabab Al-Eizariya Club in the Jerusalem district (Note: Alyan was terrorist who murdered 3, Ed.). [The course] was organized by the Committee for Training and Developing Leadership of the Palestinian Scout Association, in cooperation with the scout commission in the Jerusalem district.

The training staff is composed of several members of the Committee for Training and Developing Leadership: Preparatory studies [course] leader and Jerusalem commissioner Sa'id Atoun, [scout] leader Muhammad Al-Dahdar, and [scout] leader Mufid Al-Barq."

[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 27, 2016]





Copy of letter declaring the Palestinian Scout Association a full member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement

Notes:

The Palestinian Scout Association was "conditionally recognized" without voting rights as a Member Organization of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1996. It was declared a full member with voting rights on Feb. 27, 2016.