Families of Barghouti's Victims Speak Up: "He's an Arch Murderer"

Relatives of Israelis murdered in terror attacks directed by the Palestinian terrorist, comment on the hunger strike he is leading and on his portrayal in the "New York Times" as a "leader and parliamentarian"

The New York Times this week published an opinion piece written by Palestinian convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti on the prisoners' hunger strike he is leading, and was described simply as a "leader and parliamentarian", without any reference to the violent and deadly attacks he directed – an error that was corrected two days later. Now, his victims' bereaved family members tell their side of the story, and stress that "he is a murderer, and his incarceration conditions should not be improved."
 
"I was in the car when we were driving together," recounts Shmuel Landau, father of 17-year-old Ronen Landau who was murdered in an ambush in 2001 near his home community of Givat Zeev, northwest of Jerusalem.

"My son was hit by gunfire when Palestinian Authority members opened fire, directed by the murderer Marwan Barghouti. He gave the orders," he said.

Ronen had been heading that day to Jerusalem with a friend, hoping to watch a movie at a local cinema. It was the first day in which he was permitted by law to drive without an adult accompanier. However, the car he was driving got stuck on the way, and Ronen's father arrived to bring them back home. On the way back to Givat Zeev, Barghouti's men opened fire and hit Ronen in the back, ultimately killing him.

In response to the hunger strike, in which thousands of Palestinian security prisoners are taking part and which is led by Barghouti – who is popular among Palestinians and considered a possible future leader – Shmuel Landau said he is opposed to granting them any of their demands.

"His incarceration conditions should not be improved in any way, nothing," he said. "He is a terrorist leader, a murderer, and he is acting as if he is merely chairing a workers' committee. Following the murders he committed he was sentenced to many years in prison, and I don't think his conditions should be improved."

When asked what he would like to tell the New York Times editors, Landau answered that he would "show them photos of my late son, who cannot say anything for himself. Following the directions of the 'political leader', killers set out to murder children – he was 17 – and that is what happens when you mispresent people like him as freedom fighters."

Landau compared Barghouti to Yasser Arafat, another Palestinian leader who has been accused of directing terror attacks against Israelis. He made the comparison to argue why he should not be released from prison, as some are demanding, to replace and succeed the aging Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
 

"Look at Arafat, who was also perceived as a 'freedom fighter' and as a leader of an organization - and Barghouti is following in his path," Landau argued. "I am deeply afraid that if he leads the Palestinian Authority, he will do the exact same things as Arafat. I am very concerned of this."

Asked about the possibility of Barghouti being released as part of a prisoner swap deal, in exchange for bodies of Israeli soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip in 2014, Landau said: "God forbid if that happens. I can't believe or imagine that Israel would release such an arch-terrorist and murderer in exchange for bodies."

Another victim of terror attacks planned by Barghouti is Yoela Chen, a 45-year-old mother of two who resided in Givat Zeev as well. In January 2002 she was on her way to a family wedding in Jerusalem, when she stopped at a gas station with her Aunt. Palestinian gunmen approached her vehicle and asked if they were Jewish. When they said they were, the terrorists opened fire on them from a close range, and Yoela died of her wounds later that day.

Shlomo Chen, Yoela's husband, also expressed disagreement with the New York Times' initial description of Barghouti. "He is a murderer," he stated, adding that he too opposed the notion promoted by some, of him being released: "I disagree. He is a murderer - and we will set him free? They can think whatever they want. I am the victim, they are not."
 
Regarding the staff of the U.S. newspaper, Chen said: "I have nothing to tell them. Whoever harmed my wife and killed her will not be released, I will not agree to that." Similar sentiments were expressed by bereaved father Zion Swiri. "He is not a freedom fighter, the man is a murderer, he was tried for murder," he said.

Zion lost his son, Doron Swiri, his daughter Sharon and his son-in-law Yaniv Ben-Shalom in a shooting attack in August 2001, while they were driving along Route 443 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Sharon leaped and protected her two daughters, who were babies at the time, and she herself suffered fatal wounds along with her husband.

"Every week I go and visit my murdered children in the cemetery," Zion Swiri said. "I wish him (Barghouti) and his family to speak every week at the cemetery as well. He should take his hunger strike all the way, and have his children come every week to the cemetery to speak with him. After all, he said he wanted more time with his family."

In response to those calling for Barghouti's release, Swiri stressed that "of all those who speak this way – none of them were hurt, none of them know the pain of a bereaved family. I would wish them to suffer that pain, and then they would speak differently."

As for the possibility of a prisoner swap deal, he said: "I really hope this doesn't happen. I believe the Israeli government will not release terrorists in this way. If it does – this would be moral bankruptcy."

 

The Israeli terror victim organization "Almagor" has started operating a special task force to track the prisoners' hunger strike, due to fear that the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) is planning to negotiate a deal with them. This concern stems from the fact that members of "Almagor" who came on Tuesday to meet with IPS staff were rejected.

"We fear that alongside their stern statements, a silent negotiation is being held that will lead to compromises," said "Almagor" Chairman Meir Indor. He also stated that "many Israelis were hurt by both Force 17 and the Tanzim (the terrorist faction formerly commanded by Barghouti – A.G.). Barghouti was indicted of far more offenses than he was convicted of."

"He was indicted on 27 counts of murder, while the court ruled that only in five of them did the evidence reach the criminal threshold. He was acquitted of all the rest, and it was ruled that he bore moral responsibility for the attacks - but not legal, criminal responsibility. Apart from those cases, Barghouti is also regarded as one of the initiators of the second Palestinian Intifada (uprising) which started during the year 2000, and during which hundreds of Israelis were murdered."

(English translation: Michael Bachner)

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