Riyad Mansour
Photo: EPA
Israel ambassador to the UN slams PA representative over Barghouti
Danny Danon criticizes Riyad Mansour for praising the convicted murderer who is leading the hunger strikers, saying that doing so dishonors Barghouti’s innocent victims.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon castigated Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour Thursday for expressing solidarity with the Palestinian security prisoners currently hunger striking in Israeli prisons.
Mansour repeated The New York Times’ controversial description of convicted murderer Marwan Barghouti as “a Palestinian parliamentarian and leader” during a Security Council session on the Middle East and called for the release of convicted murderers. The Palestinian representative also asked the international community both to support their struggle and to work to stop Israel’s “violations” of the prisoners’ human rights.
Ambassador Danon
“The Palestinian representative just praised the striking prisoners,” Danon wrote on Twitter. “Let’s recall who he is talking about. Marwan Barghouti, the leader of the striking prisoners, is a terrorist and a murderer.
“Barghouti oversaw (the planning of) dozens of suicide-bombings and was convicted of direct involvement in the murder of five people… glorifying terrorists like Barghouti not only distances us from peace, but dishonors the memories of the innocent victims,” Danon continued.
Danon also said Iran threatens the stability of the entire Middle East and accused the Islamic Republic of fuelling atrocities in Syria.
As the strike began, Barghouti was placed in solitary confinement and moved from Hadarim Prison to the Kishon Prison in northern Israel to reduce Barghouti’s ability to galvanize and exert pressure on prisoners to strike.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan has also said that prisoners who endanger their lives by refusing food will be force-fed, in accordance with a 2015 law upheld by a Supreme Court decision last year.
Reprinted with permission with TPS
