Princeton cancels event featuring ex-terrorists

Princeton University will no longer host an event that was to feature three former terrorists sharing insights into the mind of a suicide bomber.

The event was scheduled for Dec. 8 at the McCosh 50 Lecture Theatre where the trio was to tell why they committed acts of violence and reveal the mindset of those who trained them.

In a statement, the Walid Shoebat Foundation, the organization sponsoring the event, claimed Princeton was violating the free-speech rights of the speakers by canceling the event. The university reportedly said use of the term "terrorist" was "too inflammatory."

Participants in the event were scheduled to be:

Walid Shoebat, who came from a prominent family in Bethlehem. After joining the Palestinian Liberation Organization, he took part in numerous attacks against Israel, including a bank bombing. He also was involved in the attempted lynching of an Israeli soldier.

Zak Anani was a leader of the most notorious Arab gangs prior to the Lebanese civil war. Before turning 16, he killed numerous Arabs in gang warfare and hated the West and Israel.

Ibrahim Abadallah was born and raised in Dearborn, Mich., to a Jordanian father. At 17, he emigrated to Israel, where he joined the PLO. He injured many Israelis while rioting and throwing Molotov cocktails.

A press conference featuring the three has been scheduled for Thursday at an undisclosed location to be announced on the morning of the event.

Inside the mind of a suicide bomber