Israel’s far-right security minister posted video footage of himself taunting the most high-profile Palestinian prisoner while visiting him in jail this week, in an encounter that has prompted outrage from supporters.
The video is the first time that Marwan Barghouti, 66, who is serving five life sentences after being convicted in 2002 for his role in planning attacks that killed five Israeli civilians, has been seen for many years. He appears gaunt and frail, with his arms held together in front as he nods slightly.
In the 13-second video, Itamar Ben Gvir taunts and threatens Barghouti, saying, “Whoever harms the people of Israel, whoever kills children, whoever kills women, we will wipe them out.”
Barghouti appears to try to respond, saying, “You know…” before Ben Gvir promptly cuts him off. “No no, you must know this, throughout all of history.” The video then abruptly ends. Ben Gvir posted the video on his Telegram channel on Friday morning.
Opinion polls have consistently shown him as the most popular Palestinian politician, and his time in prison has only increased the admiration in which he is held by Palestinians. Despite his life sentences, some see him as a successor to the ageing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
