OMAR ZAYED KILLED IN PALESTINE'S EMBASSY IN BULGARIA

Former Palestinian political prisoner Omar Zayed(52) has been found killed inside Palestine's embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he had sought refuge against Bulgaria's attempt to extradite him to Israel, which wanted to re-imprison him against the Oslo Accords, according to which all political prisoners imprisoned before it were to be freed.

His family has confirmed his death and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, whose member he was, has accused Israel of killing him.

Omar Zayed was imprisoned by Israel in 1986 and jailed with several others, accused of having taken part in the killing of an illegal Israeli settler. After being tortured in prison and held in solitary confinement for two months he fought a forty day hunger-strike in 1990 and escaped during a hospital visit, making his way to Bulgaria, which had recognized Palestine's independence.

In Bulgaria he married, had three children and took part in the activities of the local Palestinian community. For all appearances he played no role of significance, if any, in PFLP's activities during his time in Bulgaria, working as a grocer with his Bulgarian wife.

Last year Israel suddenly demanded his extradition and Bulgaria, whose government is eager to seek United States' favours through pleasing Israel in rhetoric and action, sought to arrest and extradite him. His home was searched and his son briefly arrested, and he himself sought refuge from Palestinian embassy.

It was widely believed that Israel tried to use his case as a test case if it could get former political prisoners of greater importance extradited from other European countries. Now it seems that Israel wanted more than that; Zayed's death, if Israel is behind it, can only be seen as a deliberate provocation.

There were global protests in his behalf, campaigns targeting Bulgarian and European Union political leaders, we highlighted some of these actions here, but these were in vain and it for all likelihood seems that Israel - in that case with the help of the government and security services of Bulgaria, we have to assume - has once again shown utter disregard for law and worldwide opinion.

SOURCES:

Omar Zayed found dead inside Palestinian embassy in Bulgaria
http://english.pnn.ps/…/omar-zayed-found-dead-inside-pales…/

Palestinian ex-prisoner assassinated in Bulgaria
http://english.palinfo.com/site/pages/details.aspx…

Palestinian facing extradition takes refuge in Bulgaria embassy
https://electronicintifada.net/…/palestinian-facing-e…/15082

Palestinian evades Israel extradition in Sofia embassy
http://www.aljazeera.com/…/palestinian-evades-israel-extrad…