MK (Joint Arab List) Dr. Ahmed Tibi on Monday evening compared former prime ministers, Yitzchak Shamir and Menachem Begin to convicted master Fatah Tanzim terrorist leader Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison for his heinous acts of terror. Tibi made his outrageous remarks during an interview on Channel13 TV News, explaining “Barghouti is a national symbol” as the Israelis view the late prime ministers.

Tibi added, “The Lechi and Etzel blew up markets and hotels and assassinated diplomats. You call them heroes of glory and we call them fierce terrorists. What is seen from here is not seen from there”.

Tibi added that Barghouti remains a national symbol, imprisoned by Israel, and he busies himself with the struggle between the two nations, the two peoples, and towards liberation, there are acts of violence. It is called revolutionary violence. I do not always agree. In my opinion, it is a serious error to injure civilians”.

In response to the comparison to Itamar Ben-Gvir, who posted a picture of Dr. Baruch Goldstein in his living room: “Comparing me to a Kahanist is most serious. I am a human being and never said anything racist against a Jew. Barghouti is engaged in a national struggle that includes violence. I want to change this towards a shared life, for a brighter future than this darkness to which occupation and rule over another nation takes us”.

The Likud party responds. “Barghouti is a master terrorist and the government that rests on Tibi is out of the question. Therefore, we need a national unity coalition”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)