An official Palestinian Authority mouthpiece — the PA daily newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadida — has publicly threatened Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan in an op-ed published last week, on October 5. The writer of the op-ed, football coach and journalist Abd Al-Fattah Arar, called on the Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) — which translated the rant — to deliver a message bearing the threat to Minister Erdan on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, using the magisterial “we” format of writing.
The op-ed itself is essentially an enraged rant, condemning and threatening Erdan for having recently urged the International Olympic Committee to ban the Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee Jibril Rajoub.
Following is the text of the threatening rant published by Al-Hayat Al-Jadida on behalf of the Palestinian Authority:
“Extremist Israeli Minister Gilad Erdan sent the International Olympic Committee a letter that testifies to the extent of their hate, and in it he demanded to freeze Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee [and Fatah Central Committee Secretary] Jibril Rajoub’s membership and Palestine’s membership…
“This is undoubtedly the height of insolence, which testifies to a state of confusion and a pitiful show of muscle. Be assured – and we hope that the unit that monitors the Palestinian media, Palestinian Media Watch, will pass on this message as it has passed on other messages in the past: Everything that you (“you” is in plural, -ed.) have done, are doing, and will do, and all of the frauds you are concocting, will not cause us to sit by quietly, and will not clear the arena for you to sow ruin and destruction.
This is because we have a leadership that well understands the dangers of your tricks and your ability to concoct plots well, but it stands firm and you will not succeed in damaging its determination. Rajoub’s only weapon is national support, international law, and signed conventions to which he has adhered and has ensured that the entire system will adhere, and it is a pity that you are acting in vain with the thought that he will surrender or even bend.
Do what you wish, and we are confident of our abilities. Even if we do not have your weapons or your evil intentions, we have something that you do not have, as you do not have a right, and the right is protected by the honor surrounding its existence and the belief in the justice of the cause. http://www.jewishpress.com/news/eye-on-palestine/palestinian-authority/erdan-calls-for-jibril-rajoubs-suspension-from-international-olympic-committee/2018/10/02/
And if this threat is meant to frighten us so that we will not again defend our cause, we say to you: ‘If you return [to sin], We will return [to punish]’ [Quran, Sura 17:8, Sahih International translation].”
