Coalition chairman angered over invite to Palestinian
David Bitan calls it a ‘disgrace’ that former PA minister al-Ajrami is to speak alongside him at cultural event; moderator slams his ‘fascist attitude’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
Coalition chairman and Likud MK David Bitan lashed out at organizers upon discovering that a Palestinian politician will also be a speaker at an event he is attending on Saturday. Bitan was reportedly considering pulling out of the event.
Bitan is slated to appear at the “ShabbatTarbut” cultural event in Acre. On Friday Bitan complained to the organizers after he discovered that Ashraf al-Ajrami, the former minister of prisoner affairs in the Palestinian Authority, was also invited to speak.
Bitan wrote to Zionist Union MK Zouheir Bahloul, the event moderator, saying that it was “a disgrace” that the ex-Palestinian official was invited.
“It is a disgrace to give a platform to a man who called attacks on soldiers legitimate,” wrote Bitan.
Bitan also complained in his letter that he had not been notified earlier that Ajrami was invited.
“An MK from the so-called Zionist Union invited a Palestinian provocateur to the meeting, especially in a mixed city with a delicate fabric of life between Jews and Arabs,” Bitan wrote. “Any incitement against IDF soldiers or against the state will be Zouheir’s responsibility and that of the organizers.”
According to Channel 10, Bitan was considering pulling out of the event.
Bahloul said he was not surprised by Bitan’s comments. “The dark, fascist attitude of David Bitan does not surprise me,” he said. “Palestinians in Bitan’s eyes always were and always will be demons.
Bahloul accused Bitan of being short-sighted. Instead of taking the opportunity to create a dialogue, Bahloul said, Bitan preferred to bury his head in the sand and “to attack out of Pavlovian fear without any vision.”
Last week Ajrami told Israel Radio that Palestinians had no choice but to continue the struggle against the occupation. However, he stressed that the struggle must be non-violent and via all possible diplomatic means.
Ajrami also criticized US President Donald Trump for not firmly backing a two-state solution, saying that without such a solution the conflict would continue forever.
The Times of Israel Community.