"Don't fall for Israel's character assassination - Marwan Barghouthi is a man of peace"
Newsweek, April 27, 2017
On South Africa's Freedom day, I am reminded of a time in which our friends in the African National Congress (ANC) told us: “Once Palestine is free, do not forget South Africa.”
In our long struggle, we have seen many countries win independence and many liberation movements find their way to freedom. But Palestine remains occupied. Here, colonialism and apartheid have become more entrenched just as they disappear elsewhere in the world. History, therefore, offers many valuable lessons.
Members of liberation movements either end up in jail or in the grave. That is why Palestinians call themselves “prison graduates.” When you are a Palestinian nationalist, Israeli jails are where you end up. When you belong to an occupied people, the occupying power's judicial system condemns and convicts you. It is therefore no surprise that the conviction rate of Israeli military courts has in recent years ranged from 90 to 99 percent.