After receiving harsh criticism over an Op-ed published on Sunday by a convicted terrorist and murderer Marwan Barghouti, who was referred by the New York Times to its readers as a ‘Palestinian leader and parliamentarian’, the publication adds an editor’s note to the article to clarify the reasons why Marwan Barghouti was imprisoned.
In the piece called “Why we are on hunger strike in Israel’s Prisons,” Barghouti explaining the reason for his incarceration and why he had chosen to lead a hunger strike by more than 1,100 Palestinian security prisoners. He describes Jewish state as a colonial empire. He is comparing Israel to South Africa’s apartheid while accusing the government of various human rights abuses.
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The Times initially published the article with no reference to Barghouti’s crimes or his membership in a terrorist organization. Instead, the paper described him as “a Palestinian leader and parliamentarian”.
Only on Tuesday The New York Times added an editor’s note acknowledging past murder and terrorism convictions of Marwan Barghouti,
1,187 Palestinian security prisoners—out of a total of 6,200 currently held in Israeli prisons—began a hunger strike Monday morning.
According to Yesh Atid chairman MK Yair Lapid “Barghouti was involved in dozens of terror attacks that made people lose family (members), that maimed innocents, that ruined people’s lives. The New York Times ‘forgot’ to tell its readers that.”
Lapid added “This article explained the writer’s prison sentence but neglected to provide sufficient context by stating the offenses of which he was convicted. They were five counts of murder and membership in a terrorist organization. Mr. Barghouti declined to offer a defense at his trial and refused to recognize the Israeli court’s jurisdiction and legitimacy.”
The Israel Prison Services (IPS) is investigating if the piece was written by Barghouti and transferred by letter to his lawyer, or written by Barghouti’s wife. upon checking results IPS will decide whether to take disciplinary measures against Barghouti.
Ynet reports on Monday of thousands of Palestinians demonstrated in support of the hunger strike. Even though concerns were raised by the defense establishment over possible clashes between protestors and security forces, no such incident occurred aside from one near Bethlehem where two protestors were injured after confronting the police.
