Abbas honours slain Palestinians

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas posthumously awarded the Medal of Jerusalem to two activists who were slain this month, officials said. Abbas, speaking in a condolence tent next to the tomb of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, called Juliano Mer-Khamis and Vittorio Arrigoni martyrs, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported Monday. The tent was set up in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "Crediting both martyrs the honoring Medal of Jerusalem is the least expression of gratitude for their efforts in serving the Palestinian cause," Abbas said. "The assassination of the two activists does not reflect the traditions, habits and morals of the Palestinian people and all humans." The ceremony was attended by members of the Legislative Council, representatives of various Palestinian factions and other Palestinian citizens. Mer-Khamis was assassinated by a masked gunman in Jenin in the West Bank on April 4. He was a pro-Palestinian political activist born in Nazareth. Two days later, Arrigoni's body was found inside a house in Gaza after he was kidnapped by Muslim extremists. He was an Italian pro-Palestinian activist.