By Gunnar Schupelius
The cult of martyrdom in a holy war against the Jewish state is clearly cultivated in the Palestinian representation. That’s unbearable, says Gunnar Schupelius.
The representation of the Palestinian Authority is based in an old villa at Roseneck in Wilmersdorf. Contacts with the federal government are maintained from here.
On the facade is a large poster with a photo of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot dead in the West Bank on May 11. “Martyr of Truth” is written underneath.
Shireen Abu Akleh worked for the Al Jazeera TV channel and was in Jenin when a firefight broke out between Israeli soldiers and armed Palestinians following a raid there. She was hit by a 5.6mm bullet from an M16 rifle. This rifle is used by both Israeli security forces and Palestinian terrorists.
In order to clarify who fired the fatal shot, Israel confiscated for investigation all weapons of this type used by Israeli security forces at the scene. The Palestinian Authority refused to cooperate, so it is not possible to clarify whether and which weapons of the same type were also used in the vicinity of the crime scene.
Instead, Israel was declared guilty without evidence and Shireen Abu Akleh was made a martyr in a holy war against the Jewish state, which she is not and never intended to be.
Her death was used for propaganda by radical Palestinians. This was also evident at the funeral on May 13 in Jerusalem.
Shireen Abu Akleh was baptized Greek Orthodox. According to Christian custom, her body was to be taken to the cemetery in a wagon. Muslim Palestinians stopped the car and shouldered the coffin. There was an argument, Israeli police intervened, whereupon it was now claimed that Israel had also wanted to disrupt the burial of those shot.
The political staging after the journalist’s death follows a recurring pattern, according to which the Palestinian representatives always portray themselves as victims. The cult of martyrs heightens this habit.
The Palestinian authorities themselves are a danger to the people in the West Bank and especially to journalists because they severely restrict freedom of expression and mercilessly persecute dissenters. The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedom reported on this back in 2018.
The representation of the autonomy authority at Roseneck is understood as a kind of embassy. She should work for peace with Israel. This is what the European Union, which is financially involved in the West Bank, wants.
Instead, the representation embraces the martyr cult. This does not contribute to understanding, but to the exact opposite. One could also say that in this way hatred is fueled or even intended to be fueled.
Is Gunnar Schupelius right? Call: 030/2591 73153 or email: [email protected]
