Palestinian Authority, Fatah Lead Campaign Of Solidarity With And Glorification Of Hunger-Striking Palestinian Prisoners, Including Murderers Of Israeli Civilians After Oslo Accords

Introduction

On April 17, 2017, some 1,500 Palestinian security prisoners incarcerated in Israel launched a hunger strike, under the leadership of Fatah Central Committee member Marwan Al-Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for murder. The timing of the strike, which ended 41 days later, on May 27, was inconvenient for the Palestinian Authority (PA), which feared that it would lead to violent riots just as U.S. President Donald Trump was hosting PA President Mahmoud 'Abbas at the White House, and during Trump's subsequent visit to Bethlehem as part of his efforts to restart Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. Another difficulty faced by the PA was the fear that Al-Barghouti – who initiated the strike and led it – would take sole credit for it, rather than the PA and 'Abbas himself.[1]

Nevertheless, the PA and Fatah could not be indifferent to the strike lest they spark public outrage, and thus launched a campaign of support for the prisoners. The campaign included: establishing solidarity encampments throughout the West Bank, which were also used as a platform for Fatah and PA representatives to deliver speeches and as a meeting place for families of the prisoners; holding protest activities such as a general strike, conducting parades, declaring days of rage, blocking roads, and marching to the border with Israel and other points of friction. Likewise, the PA government, headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, announced an open-ended government session for the duration of the prisoners' strike, and Fatah's Revolutionary Council called for escalating the popular resistance. Also, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry instructed its representations abroad to hold activities for solidarity with the prisoners, and Fatah and PA representatives called on international delegations to pressure Israel to comply with the prisoners' demands.

The reaction of the PA, headed by 'Abbas, to the prisoners' hunger strike reveals the duplicity of its stand vis-à-vis terrorism: While it takes care to announce its opposition to violence and terrorism, and to condemn terror attacks and their perpetrators in the world, when it comes to the Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli facilities – the vast majority of whom were convicted on terror charges, including the murder of Israeli civilians, after the Oslo Accords – the PA glorifies their deeds, presents them as freedom fighters, and places their cause at the top of the Palestinian agenda. This is manifested by 'Abbas's meetings with families of the prisoners,[2] including of terrorists with blood on their hands who carried out horrific terror operations; by presenting the prisoners' cause to President Trump during his visit to the region; by asking the U.S. envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt, during 'Abbas's May 25 meeting with him, to pressure Israel to comply with the prisoners' demands; and by effusively praising the prisoners' heroism and sacrifice.[3] 

The PA dailies extensively covered the hunger strike, with front-page headlines, extensive articles, photos, and cartoons, and presenting the prisoners as victims who are suffering greatly while failing to note the terror activity that caused suffering to others and that landed them in prison. Every day, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida reported, on its front page, the number of days of the hunger strike, which had been dubbed "The Al-Hurriya Wal-Karameh Battle" – i.e. "The Battle for Freedom and Honor" – and referred to the prisoners as "the heroes of freedom and honor."[4] Additionally, there were moves to promote public awareness of the strike, such as the erection of a model of a prison in Bethlehem's Nativity Square on the eve of Trump's visit there (see photos below);[5] the Ramallah municipality's setting up of a stop sign marked "Stand With The Prisoners"; and even a wedding ceremony for a young couple at one of the protest encampments to show solidarity with the prisoners.

Model of a prison, complete with prisoner, set up in central Bethlehem ahead of Trump's visit

Stop sign reading "Stand With The Prisoners"; sign saying "hunger strike" (Source: Akhbarelyom.com, April 26, 2017).

Early in the morning of May 27, after 41 days of hunger striking, the leadership of the striking prisoners, headed by Al-Barghouti, announced to the PA's Civilian Affairs Authority director Hussein Al-Sheikh that the strike was over after an agreement had been reached after 20 hours of negotiations between the leaders of the prisoners and the Israel Prison Service at Ashkelon Prison. It should be noted that 10 leaders of the prisoners, including Al-Barghouti, had been brought to Ashkelon Prison especially to conduct these negotiations.

The details of the agreement have not yet been officially released, but according to an announcement by PA Prisoners Authority chairman 'Issa Qaraqe', the prisoners had gotten 80% of their demands, including permission for their families to visit twice monthly. The announcement, which followed Al-Sheikh's conversation with Al-Barghouti, stated that the PA would fund a second monthly visit for the prisoners' families, at a cost of $6 million. It should be noted that figures from across the Palestinian political spectrum were united in expressing satisfaction at the strike and happiness for what they perceived as a victory for the prisoners in their struggle to improve their conditions.

The Palestinian and Israeli versions of what the prisoners achieved diverged. Israeli officials stated that that the only demand complied with was the one for an additional monthly visit, which would be funded by the PA. In contrast, Palestinian officials said that the prisoners had won several upgrades to the family visits, including the lifting of the ban on visits for 140 prisoners' children; better healthcare; and improved conditions for teens and women.[6]

This paper will review the aims of the strike and its motives against the backdrop of disputes within Fatah; PA and Fatah activities in the campaign of solidarity with the prisoners; PA officials' glorification of the prisoners convicted of terrorism, and  PA media coverage of the strike.

The Aims Of The Strike: Improving Conditions – As Well As Achieving National Goals, Launching A New Intifada 

The official reason the prisoners went on hunger strike was to obtain improved conditions. The prisoners presented a long series of demands as conditions for ending their strike, including installing air conditioning, bringing in doctors from abroad and reinstating academic studies for prisoners. An official letter they sent to the Israel Prison Service listed the following demands: ending the policy of solitary confinement and administrative detention; improving the living conditions in prison by installing public telephones in all the prisons and wings so that prisoners can call their families, installing air conditioning and ventilation in the cells, reopening the prisoner-operated kitchens and bakeries in all the prisons and allowing prisoners to buy the groceries they need; improving visiting conditions by reinstating the second monthly visit that the Red Cross stopped, including for Gaza residents, not denying visits to first-degree and second-degree relatives, extending visiting hours by 45 minutes, allowing prisoners to be photographed with their families once in three months, building public facilities for the families at the entrance to the prison, allowing children and grandchildren under 16 to attend every visit, and allowing visitors to bring prisoners books, newspapers, clothes and other personal items; improving healthcare by closing down the hospital in Ramleh Prison which, according to the prisoners, does not provide adequate medical care, providing regular medical checkups, reducing the waiting period for operations, bringing in specialists from abroad, releasing ill and especially handicapped prisoners, exempting prisoners from healthcare payments, returning prisoners directly to the prison following medical treatments outside it without delays and providing food along the way; providing suitable conditions for transporting women prisoners and allowing them to meet visitors face to face (without a barrier); reinstating Open University studies and allowing prisoners to take the official matriculation exams."[7]

The document listing the prisoners' demands (source: ynet.co.il, April 4, 2017)

However, Palestinian officials and columnists in Palestinian papers and websites mentioned additional aims of the hunger strike. According to them, the primary aim was to increase solidarity with the prisoners and precipitating a new intifada that would bring about the end of the occupation. Qadura Fares, chairman of the Palestinian Prisoners Club, warned that the hunger strike would lead to an intifada first in the prisons themselves and later throughout the Palestinian territories.[8] Jordanian columnist Hamada Far'ana likewise wrote that Marwan Al-Barghouti was acting to start an intifada.[9] Former Palestinian MP and the administrator of the Amad website Hassan 'Asfour described the strike as a new intifada.[10]

The second aim mentioned was internationalizing the issue of the Palestinian prisoners and thereby changing their status, causing them to be seen as prisoners of war rather than terrorists. Indeed, from the beginning of the strike Palestinian officials acted to enlist the international community in pressuring Israel to comply with the prisoners' demands and thereby to defuse the Israeli and American demand that the PA halt payments to prisoners. In a meeting with Al-Barghouti's wife, Palestinian President Mahmoud 'Abbas promised her he would act in the international arena to "save the prisoners' lives."[11] Marwan Al-Barghouti's son Qassam said that protests were taking place in the Palestinian territories alongside the diplomatic activity vis-à-vis foreign consuls.[12]

However, despite these efforts, the bid to rebrand the prisoners in the eyes of the international community – as prisoners of war rather than terrorists – was not successful.

Yet another aim of the strike was to achieve unity within Fatah as well as between Fatah and Hamas. In an April 16 letter to the Fatah movement, Al-Barghouti wrote that the movement was facing a challenge but also an opportunity to present a united position by Fatah prisoners and thereby increase their prominence, to end all the negative phenomena that have plagued Fatah in recent years, and to bolster its strength, unity and role.[13] As for unity between Fatah and Hamas, Palestinian researcher Ahmad 'Issa wrote that "the prisoners' strike will inevitably impact the Palestinian dialogue on the [Fatah-Hamas] schism, which is at its worst."[14] However, the refusal of Hamas prisoners to join the strike reduced the chances of achieving Hamas-Fatah unity, which were slim to begin with. 

Controversy Regarding The Motivations For The Strike, Against Backdrop Of Struggles Within Fatah

From the beginning of the strike, some questioned the motivations of its initiator, Fatah Central Committee member Marwan Al-Barghouti, as well as the number of prisoners actually participating in it and the extent of support for it in the PA, in Hamas, in other Palestinian factions and among the Palestinian public at large.

It should be recalled that Marwan Al-Barghouti has been mentioned as a Fatah candidate to succeed 'Abbas as PA president.[15] In elections to the Fatah Central Committee held on February 2017, following the Seventh Fatah Conference, Al-Barghouti won the largest number of votes, reflecting his popularity. In light of this achievement and despite being in prison, he hoped to be nominated as Fatah deputy chairman, but he was not selected for this role or for any other role in the committee. His wife Fadwa claimed that 'Abbas had submitted to Israeli pressures not to nominate him.[16] Fatah official Nasser Al-Qidwa explained that there had been no consensus in the committee in favor of the nomination, and another Fatah official said that the Central Committee members had conspired against Al-Barghouti, just as they had earlier conspired against Muhammad Dahlan and his associates and excluded them from the movement.

Claims that personal ambition to succeed 'Abbas had led Al-Barghouti to launch the hunger strike in order to gain more popularity sparked a heated controversy in the PA. Fatah official and former PA official Mundhir Irshid said that Al-Barghouti's exclusion from any official position in Fatah had prompted him to launch the strike in order to demonstrate his prominence and prove that nobody should ignore his ability to sweep the masses as he did in the second intifada.[17] Conversely, other former PA officials and columnists in PA papers, such as Ashraf Al-Ajrami and 'Abd Al-Ghani Salameh, argued that the humanitarian character of the prisoners' demands belied the claim that Al-Barghouti had launched it out of a desire to bolster his status after failing to secure the role of Fatah deputy chairman. They also argued that a popular and genuine leader like Al-Barghouti  did not need to strengthen his image by launching a strike.[18] Hafez Al-Barghouti, the former editor of the PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, wrote that the video which seemed to show Marwan Al-Barghouti eating during the strike had been fabricated and circulated by Fatah members because "he had become a rival to many of his [former] friends [in Fatah] and they feared his release from prison."[19]

It should be mentioned that much praise was lavished during the hunger strike on Marwan Al-Barghouti, whom Palestinians regard as their Nelson Mandela although he was sentenced to five life sentences plus 40 years for orchestrating deadly terrorist attacks. PA Prisoners Authority chairman 'Issa Qaraqe' said: "The leader Marwan Al-Barghouti is very popular not only among the prisoners and the Palestinian masses, but also with foreign human rights organizations, and has become one of the world's [iconic] freedom fighters."[20] Rajab Abu Suraya, a columnist for the PA daily Al-Ayyam, wrote that the scope of the strike – which involved about a fourth of the prisoners – was an achievement of the prisoners' leadership, headed by Al-Barghouti, and that this achievement came after the prisoners had despaired of the PA government or of Hamas ever achieving a deal to affect their release. He added: "Just as the Fatah movement constituted the first shot and the first stone, and just as Fatah Central Committee member Mawan Al-Barghouti was part of the leadership of the first intifada in 1987, commanded by historic leader Khalil Al-Wazir, [aka] Abu Jihad, and just as [Al-Barghouti] was the patron of the second intifada led by the Father of the Palestinians, Yasser Arafat... he has [now] sparked off the intifada that is on the horizon, and none is more qualified to lead it than he. The knight [Al-Barghouti] will step up and receive the [Palestinian] banner. That is certain at this stage of the national struggle."[21]

Media affiliated with Mahmoud Dahlan and with factions opposing 'Abbas, such as Hamas and the Popular Front, took advantage of the strike to praise Al-Barghouti and attack 'Abbas.[22] It should be mentioned that Muhammad Dahlan was excluded from the Fatah movement along with his associates, and this is the source of a bitter rivalry between him and Mahmoud 'Abbas. The exclusion of Dahlan, and later of Marwan Al-Barghouti, created a sort of alliance between the two, and Dahlan has explicitly declared that he supports Al-Barghouti as 'Abbas's successor.[23]

Reactions To The Strike In Fatah, PA, PA Press: Glorification Of The Prisoners, Including Those Who Murdered Israelis

'Abbas: The Prisoners Are Our Heroes And Their Problems Are At The Top Of Our Agenda

As mentioned, although PA officials did not initiate the strike, they joined the expressions of solidarity with it and publicly identified with it, describing the prisoners as "icons" and "heroes" even though some of them perpetrated some of the gravest acts of terror Israel has experienced. In his May 2 meeting with representatives of the Palestinian diaspora in the U.S., 'Abbas said: "I say to the prisoners: 'Patience, your victory will come in time, you are our icons and our heroes.'"[24] On April 28, at the Muqata'a in Ramallah, 'Abbas received a delegation from the families of the martyrs and the hunger-striking prisoners. During the reception, 'Abbas met with Latifa Abu Hamid, mother of four Palestinian prisoners who are serving cumulative life sentences in Israeli prisons for their involvement in suicide and shooting attacks perpetrated against Israelis. Among them are Nasser Abu Hamid, who was a senior member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in Ramallah during the second intifada and was actively involved in the lynching of two Israeli soldiers in Ramallah on October 12, 2000, and Sharif Abu Hamid, who was also active in the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, and provided weapons and assistance to perpetrate terror attacks in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv during February and March 2002.[25] During the meeting 'Abbas stated that "The prisoner problem is at the top of the Palestinian agenda."[26] 'Abbas called upon the public to support the prisoners and relieve their suffering, clarifying that "The Palestinian leadership is in contact with international bodies to pressure the government of Israel to meet the demands of the prisoners."[27]

'Abbas made similar statements at a meeting of Fatah's Revolutionary Council on May 25: "We will support the prisoners and prevent them from being forced to surrender or to back down. Our heroic prisoners are striking for humanitarian purposes."[28]

'Abbas's meeting with Latifa Abu Hamid (image: Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 29, 2017)

Delegation of prisoner's families received at the Muqata'a (Wafa.ps, April 28, 2017)

Praise for the prisoners was also heard from other senior PA and Fatah officials. On April 24, a delegation including Deputy Fatah Chairman Mahmoud Al-'Aloul and Central Committee member Jamal Al-Muheisen visited the home of Latifa Abu Hamid in the Al-Am'ari refugee camp, in recognition of her hunger strike in solidarity with her sons. Al-'Aloul promised that "Fatah will continue the struggle until all the prisoners are released."[29]

Fatah members on a visit to Latifa Abu Hamid's home (pnn.ps/news, April 24, 2017)

PA Prime Minister: "We Are Proud Of The Strike Led By 'The Fighter' Marwan Al-Barghouti

PA Prime Minister Rami Al-Hamdallah joined those glorifying the terrorists in his speech to mark Palestinian Prisoner Day, when he referred to Marwan Al-Barghouti a "fighter." He said: "The steadfastness of the prisoners' movement and its sacrifices are a source of honor and pride for us. We, the leadership and the people, are united in supporting you and proud of the battle for freedom that you are waging, led by the fighter Marwan Al-Barghouti.[30]

Also, at the close of a PA government meeting on May 23, the day that Trump visited Bethlehem, the government congratulated "the heroic prisoners in Israel's prisons and detention centers who demonstrate through the Battle for Freedom and Honor [i.e. the hunger strike] the greatest and most noble courage and sacrifice." The government condemned "the silence of the international community and human rights, humanitarian and health organizations whose activities do not properly address the dangers facing the heroic prisoners… This dossier must be closed and it will be closed only when all the prisoners are released from the prisons of the occupation. Their freedom is inseparable from the liberation of the homeland and the people… Prime Minister [Rami Al-Hamdallah] has called on the public to increase its solidarity with the prisoners every day."[31]

PA, Fatah, Israeli Arab Representatives Attend Inauguration Of Square Named For Terrorist Karim Younes

As part of activities in honor of the prisoners, on May 18, 2017 the PA named a square in Jenin after Israeli Arab terrorist Karim Younes, also known as the eldest of prisoners, who was convicted of the kidnapping and murder of the soldier Avraham Bromberg in 1980 and is serving a 40-year prison sentence. The Fatah movement in Jenin and the Jenin municipality invited dignitaries from the area as well as Israeli Arab figures to attend the inauguration in solidarity with the "heroic" prisoners. Jenin Governor Ibrahim Ramadan said at the ceremony that PA President Mahmoud 'Abbas is working for the release of the prisoners incarcerated in Israel. In another tribute to Karim Younes, in May the Fatah Central Committee decided to accept the recommendation of the movement's Revolutionary Council and appoint him a member of the Central Committee.[32]

In Article, PA Prisoner Authority Chairman Calls To Take Up Arms: "Break Your Pens, Look For A Gun And A Bullet"

In an article he published in the Al-Quds daily, PA Prisoners Authority chairman 'Issa Qaraqe' called on Palestinians to take up arms: "Do not cause us to get back [our prisoners] from the occupation's prisons [in the form of] dead bodies. We are out of words. There is no more need for the press and the media, for analyses and projections. The prisoners are facing death now. Break your pens, look for a gun and a bullet... We already know where we will die – either in jail or executed at a checkpoint... They drag us to their military courts, to accuse us of whatever they like and declare they have caught us as terrorists. Enough. Each and every one of us must look for a gun and a bullet."[33]

During the prisoners' hunger strike, severe complaints were also heard against the Red Cross in Hebron and shots were even fired at the organization's headquarters in the city. Al-Barghouti's attorney, Elias Sabbagh, said that the Red Cross had violated one of its own principles – protecting prisoners – when it reduced the number of visits to which prisoners were entitled.[34] On May 16 the organization suspended its activities due to the threats it had received regarding the prisoners' strike.[35]

Support For Continued Payments To Families Of Martyrs, Prisoners, Wounded

During the hunger strike, Fatah officials expressed support for the continued payment of allowances to the families of Palestinians who were imprisoned, killed or wounded as part of the struggle against Israel. Central Committee member 'Azzam Al-Ahmad said: "Seeing to the livelihood of the families of the martyrs has been a permanent part of the history of the [Palestinian] revolution, and we cannot renege on that... We will not allow Israel to interfere in this... The [Palestinian] National Fund is a PLO institution, and the U.S. administration has not asked us to halt the payments to [the families of] the martyrs, prisoners and wounded. Our position on this is based on the interest of our people."[36]

'Abbas's foreign affairs advisor, Nabil Sha'th, told Israeli radio that anyone asking the PA to halt the payments to prisoners is a madman, and that "this demand is meant destroy any chance for peace between the Palestinians and Israelis and is an act of defiance against the opportunity led by [U.S.] President Trump. The prisoners are victims of Israel and a result of the occupation. Would we ask Israel to stop paying salaries to its soldiers?"[37]

Extensive And Supportive Coverage Of The Strike In PA Press

As stated, the PA dailies covered the prisoners' strike extensively with front-page headlines, articles, images and cartoons, presenting the prisoners as suffering victims and ignoring the brutal nature of the actions of which they had been convicted. Every day, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida reported, on its front page, the number of days of the hunger strike, and referred to the prisoners as "the heroes of freedom and honor."[38]

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida front page on 41^st day of the strike

Articles Glorifying Murderers Serving Life Sentences

PA papers published dozens of articles about prisoners who had murdered Israelis, including many civilians. For example, a series of articles published by Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, some of them in collaboration with the Abu Jihad Center for Prisoner Affairs, included an article on Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades Commander Nasser 'Awais, who was sentenced to 14 terms of life imprisonment plus 50 years and six months for planning and carrying out terrorist attacks in 2001-2002, in which 14 Israelis were killed. Recounting his biography, the article states that from the age of 16 he threw firebombs at Israeli targets, and later recruited people to Fatah and commanded a group of fighters. After he was arrested and sentenced to five years, he became a central activist in prison. The article also describes his activity during the first intifada, his expulsion to Jordan for three years, his activity as commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, which placed him at the top of Israel's most wanted list, and his activity in Fatah's Al-Shabiba movement. It notes that he did not recognize the legitimacy of the Israeli courts and mentions his pedigree as "the brother of a martyr and the uncle of a martyr."[39]

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida article on Nasser 'Awais

Another Al-Hayat Al-Jadida article was dedicated to the prisoner Hatem Yasser Muhammad Al-Jayousi, a founder of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, who was sentenced to six terms of life imprisonment plus 55 years for planning a shooting attack during the second intifada in which six Israelis were killed. Recounting his life story and his armed operations, the article described him as "a resistance fighter who stands fast in the face of [his] jailor."[40] A third article described the "heroism" of the prisoner 'Izz Al-Din Al-Khaled Hamamra, of the Deheishe refugee camp, who was sentenced to nine terms of life imprisonment for committing a suicide bombing during the second intifada in which eight Israelis were killed, and for planning bus hijacking operations.[41]  

Latifa Abu Al-Hamid makes the sign of victory (image: Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 15, 2017)

March in Ramallah in support of the prisoners' strike. The girl is holding a portrait of prisoner 'Abd Allah Al-Barghouti, sentenced to 67 years for planning terrorist operations in which 66 people were killed in 2001-2002 (image: Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, PA, April 25, 2017)

Articles Praising Academic Studies Of Prisoners Held By Israel

In the context of the demand to reinstate academic studies for prisoners, the Palestinian media highlighted personal stories of prisoners and their studies during their incarceration, in order to raise public awareness of the issue. For example, an article published by the Palestinian news agency Wafa about the prisoner Alaa Al-Din Al-Karaki, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of an Israeli, noted that he had completed a BA in political science and social sciences, with honors, and that when his mother visited him in prison he presented her with his academic degree and told her, "Mother, you planted a tree, and now the time has come for you to pick its fruit."[42]

Another article was devoted to life prisoner Jum'a Adam, who while in prison completed his studies for a matriculation certificate and a bachelor's degree, and is now studying by correspondence for a master's at Al-Quds University, in the Department of Israeli Affairs.[43]

*C. Jacob is a research fellow at MEMRI.