This photograph tells you everything you need to know about the upcoming Palestinian sham election, as the Holocaust-denying front runner Abu Mazen poses openly with Zakaria Zubeidi—the leader of the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a mass murderer on Israel’s most wanted list:

Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, the front-runner in the upcoming January 9 presidential elections is carried by the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades leader in the West Bank, Zakaria Zubeidi, center left, during a campaign visit to the Jenin refugee camp, Thursday Dec. 30, 2004. Abbas on Thursday shook hands with Zubeidi, an armed militant leader wanted by Israel, and prayed with the fugitive at a West Bank cemetery for those killed in fighting with Israel. (AP Photo/Enric Marti)

Here’s a story about this meeting; notice how the Associated Press blindly parrots Abu Mazen’s statement about “negotiating a peace deal” without a hint of skepticism, immediately following their account of his jolly meeting with a crowd full of gun-toting wanted murderers: Abbas Statements on Militants Monitored.

The highlight of Abbas’ visit to the Jenin refugee camp next to the northern West Bank town of Jenin was his encounter with a group of gunmen led by Zakaria Zubeidi, the local leader of the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a violent group with ties to Abbas’ ruling Fatah party.

Zubeidi, who is idolized in the camp for his swagger and wanted by Israel for organizing attacks and sending suicide bombers into Israeli cities, took center stage in welcoming Abbas to the camp. Jenin was the scene of heavy fighting during an Israeli incursion in 2002 that followed one of the bombings.

Zubeidi and other gunmen hoisted aloft Abbas, who smiled and waved to about 3,000 Palestinians gathered around. Some in the crowd were armed.

Abbas won Zubeidi’s ringing endorsement. After Abbas left the stage, Zubeidi, with gunmen firing in the air, warned that he would deal with anyone who tried to challenge the elected Palestinian leadership. Then Zubeidi escorted Abbas’ car out of the camp.

Palestinian analysts say Abbas needs to win the election in a landslide to capture even part of the emotional backing Yasser Arafat had, possibly explaining his trip to the camp and embrace of Zubeidi.

In his address, Abbas referred to the 2002 battle, in which 52 Palestinians and 23 Israeli soldiers were killed, recalling that Arafat called the camp “Jeningrad.” The crowd responded with a healthy cheer.

“When we demand security,” Abbas said, “we demand it for all our citizens, including our wanted brothers who also deserve a life of security and safety,” he said, in a reference to Zubeidi and his group, evoking another big cheer.

Abbas also pressed other themes — restoring the rule of law and negotiating a peace deal with Israel.