Palestinian former-prisoner Sonia al-Rai smiles surrounded by friends and family at the Jalama checkpoint near the West Bank city of Jenin on October 26, 2008, after being released from an Israeli jail after 11 years. Sonia al-Rai, 40, held longer than any other female inmate in an Israeli jail, was released today and met by friends and relatives amid celebrations at the Jalama checkpoint near Jenin. Rai was arrested in 1997 after she attempted to attack an Israeli soldier.
Leaving aside the fact this woman looks constipated, what is interesting is the caption. You’d be forgiven for thinking that perhaps Israel was being a bit harsh. 11 years for attempting to attack a soldier? What did she do anyway? Throw rocks at them?
The answer is found on the website of the PFLP, the terrorist organization to which she belongs.
She carried out a military operation on the ninth anniversary of the martyrdom of her brother, shooting Israeli occupation soldiers and border guards at the Al-Karama crossing (Allenby Bridge). Comrade Souna noted that since a young age she was committed to the promise of undertaking a military operation in honor of her brother and in retaliation against the occupation for its ongoing crimes against our people. She spoke to the ability and the heritage of Palestinian women’s participation in all forms of struggle, noting the Palestinian women heroes and martyrs – comrade Leila Khaled, Dalal al-Mughrabi, Shadia abu Ghazalah, and many other heroes, martyrs and prisoners.
In other words, this was not some spontaneous, lashing out against some soldier. This was an orchestrated terrorist attack designed to kill.
Update: The palestinian Ramattan News Agency does not even mention an attack, instead stating that she was arrested “for her activities in the Intifada and membership of the PFLP.”
Update: AP actually gets it right with this caption.
Released Palestinian prisoner Sonia Al Rai, 40, is carried by family and supporters after crossing the Israeli army’s Jalameh Checkpoint near the West Bank city of Jenin, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008. Al Rai was released at the end of a 12-year sentence for attempting to kill an Israeli soldier on the Allenby Bridge border crossing that connects Jordan to the West Bank. (AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas)
