Israel’s national security minister threatens Fatah leader during prison visit

ISTANBUL

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened senior Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti during a visit to Ganot Prison in central Israel, local media reported Thursday.

Accompanied by Israel Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yacobi, Ben-Gvir was heard telling Barghouti: “Anyone who messes with Israel, who murders our children, who murders our women -- we will eliminate them. You need to know this,” said Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth daily.

Israel’s Channel 12 broadcast a video clip of Ben-Gvir’s provocative visit to the prison, which was formerly known as Ramon and Nafha prisons. In the footage, Barghouti appeared frail and in poor health. The channel reported that the minister’s visit was intended to oversee stricter conditions for Palestinian prisoners.

Barghouti, 66, a prominent Fatah politician and leader, participated in the First Intifada in 1987 and emerged as a leading figure in the Second Intifada in 2000. Israel arrested him in 2002 and sentenced him to five life terms, accusing him of responsibility for attacks carried out by armed groups affiliated with Fatah which resulted in the deaths and injuries of Israelis.