Palestinian Leaders Yell Political Theatre at a Crowded Israeli Fire

Barry Rubin
The Rubin Report
09 December '10
Posted before Shabbat

Often, small details give a tremendous insight into political realities. Such an example is the remark made by a high-ranking Palestinian official about the tragic fire in northern Israel.

When the fire broke out, 40 Israeli prison guards were rushed to a prison to evacuate the prisoners there in order to save their lives. The bus was trapped in the flames and all of these men, plus the driver, died.

Later that day, Palestinian Authority (PA) Deputy Minister for Prisoners, Ziyad Abu Ein, accused Israel of planning to use the fire in order to kill Palestinians in jail. As broadcast on the PA television station he said:

"Yes, they created a lag and our [Palestinian] prisoners were endangered. Had there not been Israeli criminals or Jewish prisoners in this particular prison, it would have been even slower... but the presence of hundreds of Israeli prisoners in [Damon] prison spurred the…the evacuation of the prisoners. But still it was very slow."

This statement haunts me for two reasons. First, it is the perfect example of the fact that even today, 17 years after the Oslo agreement, no PA official—nor even any journalist or intellectual living under its rule—can ever publicly say anything positive or even empathetic about Israel.

(Read full article "Palestinian Leaders Yell Political Theatre ....." )

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