On Friday we reported on an incident that has received a lot of attention, the injuries sustained by Palestinian leader Mustafa Barghouti during a Land Day protest at Qalandiya checkpoint. Barghouti told me from his Ramallah hospital bed that an Israeli teargas canister had struck him in the head. Others asserted that he was attacked when supporters of his group, the Palestinian National Initiative, clashed with other Palestinian groups.
Yesterday the Palestine Monitor, which was founded by Barghouti, published an account by Ahmed Nasser:
Before the protest launched, the leaders of the political parties agreed to move towards the checkpoint. While they were walking down towards the checkpoint, unidentified individuals attempted to co-opt the peaceful non-violent protest. These individuals tried to hinder the unified demonstration. It should be clarified that at this moment, there were only verbal discrepancies amongst protesters, and not between political leaders, and it is crucial to clarify that Dr. Barghouthi was not part of the group.
At the same time, the Israeli security forces launched dozens of tear gas canisters and skunk water when the protest was on hold. It was at this moment when Dr. Barghouthi was hit in the head with a tear gas canister. Dr. Barghouthi was escorted to one of the ambulances that rushed to the scene. When Dr. Barghouthi was already inside the ambulance, which was heading to the hospital, this ambulance and another two ambulances carrying other injured protesters were attacked by the same people trying to co-opt the protest. There is no evidence that this violence was in any way targeted at Dr. Barghouthi himself.
I called Barghouti today and was told by a friend who got on the phone that he had nothing to add to Nasser's statement. Who were the individuals who had confronted the peaceful demonstrators? "We don't know." (I would add that when I asked Barghouti the other day about an Israeli government claim that he had been attacked by Palestinians, he said that was the "most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Why would any Palestinian attack me? I'm a leader of the Palestinians.")
While they were walking down towards the checkpoint, unidentified individuals attempted to co-opt the peaceful non-violent protest.
I know suggesting that sometimes people incite violence under the flag of the opposing group is to invite being called a member in good standing of the tinfoil hat brigade. Except that sometimes it is true. This sh-t happens.
Please see here for a clip of Quebec police officers being unmasked by protestors at a G8 conference in Quebec a few years ago. The SQ (as the police are known) admitted in a press conference to having done this. Busted. Please see the clip. It is eye-opening. -N49.
link to youtube.com
So Barghouti’s initial claim that he was hit by a teargas canister is still being made. There is now this complication that an unidentified group tried to disrupt the protest and then attacked one or more ambulances. On the other hand, there is an IDF claim that Barghouti was originally injured by fellow Palestinians as he himself was inciting Palestinians to riot. It may be a little difficult to sort out exactly what happened and why, but the least reliable source of information is quite identifiable: the IDF.
From the information we have, it is impossible to identify this “unidentified” group. However, with all the preparations Israel made for the “threat” posed by Land Day demonstrations, it is IMO most probable that the IDF had agents infiltrating the various protest groups. I cannot imagine they did not try. Were they part of this attempted disruption and attack on ambulances? Israel is well-deserving of such suspicion based on its past behavior, but there is no way to tell.
as he himself was inciting Palestinians to riot.
I’ve never heard anything more unlikely. Dr Moustafa Barghouti inciting people? That’s ridiculous. I noticed in passing, the IDF didn’t even spell his name correctly.
But the first part of the story could actually work. Either as you suggest agents or story for media, a group of Palestinians in the demonstration ready to use violence. I guess if we are honest, it must even leave us ambivalent.
I haven’t watched this closely, do some “witnesses” (one witness) say he was inciting people? The people that say so, should be studied very, very closely. It’s a real pity we don’t have the means of the agencies. Maybe in these kind of demostrations, Palestinians should start to register participants and take photos.
The IDF never shoots Palestinians, because what else should they use for target-practicing with live ammo? Rachel Corrie crawled under a ‘Bear,’ Tom Hurndall tried to knock a bullet out of the way with his head and those USS Liberty sailors pretended to be Egyptians. Did I forget anything?
RE: “…unidentified individuals attempted to co-opt the peaceful non-violent protest. These individuals tried to hinder the unified demonstration.” ~ Ahmed Nasser
FROM WIKIPEDIA [Mista'arvim]:
SOURCE – link to en.wikipedia.org
Israel has long used undercover agents and provocateurs to foment violence, and then blame it on the protesters, Palestinians or any other group it wishes to attack. They have the means, the motive and the method. Why should we believe a word of their account, when they have previous form of such infiltration, as well as being proven serial liars?
“means, the motive and the method” Agreed; pity they don’t have morals to go with the first three.
2 musta’arbin were captured in Ramallah in 2000 and didn’t survive the experience. It’s a very risky business.
The West Bank is one of the only places left where Israel can try to control the story and even that is becoming a challenge. I’m sure the Barghouti spin is enough to convince most dumb Israelis – it fits into the narrative of the bloodthirsty Palestinians- but it doesn’t help Israel one jot in terms of extricating the country from the deep hole it now finds itself in.
So what if he got hit by the canister? Why it is so important to muzzle about for 3 days in a row? You to protest towards military checkpoint-expect to be tear-gassed, hit by the rubber bullet and, God forbid ,canister! What is wrong here- is he a child or mentally incompetent person?
You to protest towards military checkpoint-expect to be tear-gassed, hit by the rubber bullet and, God forbid ,canister! What is wrong here- is he a child or mentally incompetent person?
Let us know when to apply that rule to Jewish settlers on a rampage. link to vosizneias.com
“is he a child or mentally incompetent person”?
No- but you obviously are. “so what” say’s so much.
dimadok: So what if he got hit by the canister?
Then IDF lied. Face it.
When Dr. Barghouthi was already inside the ambulance, which was heading to the hospital, this ambulance and another two ambulances carrying other injured protesters were attacked by the same people trying to co-opt the protest. There is no evidence that this violence was in any way targeted at Dr. Barghouthi himself.
That’s sounds like most of the accounts were correct, in that, the IDF did indeed target Dr. Barghouthi, one tear gas canister striking his head, then, the PLDF did indeed try to assault/impede him(in the ambulance) as the IDF seem to imply…!
dimadok: the importance of Dr. Barghuti being hit by a canister is in suggests that once again IDF violated its own (alleged) rule not to use grenade launchers in the manner that is not consistent with “non-lethal” use. OTOH, if the launcher was used correctly and tear gas canister was launched on high arc and hit its human target at a low velocity, then it is possible that it is not a violation of the rules.
However, lies by IDF spokescreatures are vile even if unnecessary.
It is quite intriguing who were the mysterious individuals violently disrupting the protest. My bet would be on Palestinian security forces which are paid by USA and cooperate with IDF, although they could be undercover IDF personnel too. If kind of makes no difference if it was done by IDF or for IDF. The reason for my “bet” is that I imagine that Palestinian activists know each other, so activists would be recognized and named. If not named, then it points to PA censorship, and who PA censorship would protect? If unknown, then probably secret agents.
Again, why would a political competitor of Barghouthi use secret activists to be filmed by IDF and thus loosing their secret status? The gain would be very fleeting and the cost substantial. Unless these people are not secret as far as IDF is concerned.
It’s all but impossible to connect with the current Israeli psyche.
link to presstv.ir
Russian TV ran a recent feature, including interview, claiming that IDF soldiers are encouraged to kill themselves, or each other, to avoid embarrassing capture.
link to youtube.com!
ok, here is my hair brained theory.
ahead of land day, the most famous barghouti, arguably one of the most popular palestinian leaders ever, marwan barghouti made an appeal for a third intifada and a complete halt to PA coordination with israel. diplomatic, security and otherwise.
i think it was probably a coordinated attack (by israel and possibly the pa ‘security’) to draw international attention away from marwan’s statement.
You got it in 1.
thank you
bingo
I don’t this this post added anything new. Why did other Palestinians (your sources?) say that Palestinians attacked him? Even +972mag said that other Palestinians attacked him.
This post didn’t clarify the initial confusion.
“Even +972mag said…. ”
Err, have I missed something here? is ’972 mag’ the new Messiah? Barghouti a very naughty boy?
“Did I forget anything?”
Oh, probably. But you certainly made your point…