From Terrorist to Teacher, from Murderer to Mentor
- Terrorist prisoner Marwan Barghouti who orchestrated shootings in which 5 were murdered and terrorist murderer Maslama Thabet supervise academic studies in prison
- Barghouti “is behind the great achievement of academic studies in the Israeli prisons” – praise by released murderer
- 200 terrorist prisoners “already completed a master’s degree” under Barghouti’s tutelage
In 2002, terrorist Marwan Barghouti was arrested by Israel and later sentenced to 5 life sentences for orchestrating shooting attacks in which 5 people were murdered. When arrested he was a member of PA Parliament, and he has been reelected as such while serving time. In addition, PA and Fatah Chairman Abbas appointed him to Fatah’s Central Committee. This month, the PA marks the anniversary of Barghouti’s so-called “kidnapping” by Israel, as Palestinian Media Watch exposed earlier this month, when the PA referred to Barghouti as a “national symbol and a model of inspiration for the masses.”
From Terrorist to Teacher
Another fact about Barghouti exposed by PMW is that he serves as supervisor of academic studies in prison, teaching and tutoring other prisoners who are studying for their MA degrees in “Israel Studies.” Released terrorist murderer Karim Younes shed more light on Barghouti’s doings as a teacher recently when he praised Barghouti at a Fatah ceremony honoring him. Murderer Younes spoke with awe about terrorist Barghouti, telling the audience of his dedication to his terrorist prisoner students – teaching for hours while sitting on an iron pipe with a rag over it. Younes related that 200 of his students have completed MA degrees under his supervision:
Released terrorist prisoner Karim Younes: “Marwan… has been a leader since his youth, and he is a Fatah member and a member of its [Fatah] Central Committee… [In prison] we would call him: ‘The professor who sits on a pole.’ Forgive me [the expression] ‘the professor who sits on a pole.’ I cannot explain to you how tough, persistent, and loyal he is, because he is the man behind the great achievement, the achievement of academic studies, the systematic studies in the Israeli prisons. No one can describe how this uncompromising man can sit on a bit of iron pipe and put a rag or torn blanket on it and sit from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and lecture to his students, of whom 200 have already completed a master’s degree… At 11:00 a.m. he goes down, loaded with books, the textbooks are in his hands, and he continues until 3:00 p.m. without a break with the prisoner students so that they will complete their studies. They complete their studies at Al-Quds [Open] University, but they do not complete their studies like in regular universities… Those who were released and continued to study in universities [outside prison] know the difference between the studies inside prison and outside. Studying with brother Marwan – if the [regular] study material is 2 books, with Marwan it’s 7. A regular class is an hour and a half, with Marwan [it’s] four hours.”
[Official PA TV, May 8, 2023]
From Murderer to Mentor
Another imprisoned terrorist is also participating actively in educating his fellow terrorist inmates. Murderer Maslama Thabet, who participated in the murder of 2 Israelis, has not only completed a master’s degree on his own and is now working on a doctorate, but he has also become a “dedicated” mentor of other prisoners, teaching and supervising them at all academic levels:
“Maslama Thabet (i.e., terrorist, participated in murder of 2)… is serving 25 years… During the years of his imprisonment, he obtained a master’s degree in Israeli Studies, and he is about to complete his doctorate…
He is dedicating himself now to the topic of education in Ketziot Prison, and is giving lectures and exams and supervising the prisoners who are sitting [high school] matriculation exams and bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and this is through the prisoners’ library that belongs to the [PLO] Commission of Prisoners and Released Prisoners’ Affairs.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 15, 2023]
Additional reports in PA media have mentioned other terrorist prisoners – including murderers – who have completed university degrees in prison:
Abu Ramez Barham, father of terrorist murderer Zafer Barham: “Before he was imprisoned, [Zafer Barham] studied in junior high school, completed junior high school, and was in 10th grade.”
Official PA TV host 1: “He was sentenced to life and 3 years, right?”
Abu Ramez Barham: “He was sentenced to life and 3 years, Allah be praised. In prison – here is new information: In prison he completed [high school] matriculation exams. He completed a bachelor’s degree.”
Official PA TV host 2: “That’s great! That’s great!”
Abu Ramez Barham: “And he is studying for a master’s degree and has published two novels, Allah be praised. A novel named ‘Smile of a Fighter,’ and a novel named ‘Ten Olive Trees.’”
[Official PA TV, Ramadan and the People, April 17, 2023]
“Prisoner Osama Al-Ashqar (i.e., terrorist, responsible for murder of 8)… was sentenced by the occupation to 8 life sentences and another 50 years. Prisoner Al-Ashqar has completed his studies, as he achieved a [high school] matriculation certificate and a bachelor’s degree in social studies, and he also studied Hebrew, English, and French in prison.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 29, 2023]
“Prisoner Muammar Shahrour (i.e., terrorist, recruited and armed suicide bomber Abd Al-Basset Odeh who murdered 30)… the occupation sentenced him to 29 life sentences and another 20 years… Shahrour is considered one of the prisoner activists in the prisons at all levels, and he succeeded in completing his studies and achieved two bachelor’s degrees and is about to receive a master’s degree.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 10, 2023]
“The [PA-funded] Prisoners’ Club said that [Prisoner Tayyoun Abd Al-Hadi] Tayyoun (i.e., terrorist, murdered 1)… was sentenced to life and during [his] imprisonment he achieved a bachelor’s degree in political science, and today he is in Nafha Prison.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 11, 2023]
“Tareq Izz Al-Din (i.e., senior official of Islamic Jihad terror organization, killed during 2023 Operation Shield and Arrow; see note below)… participated in the Stone Intifada operations in 1987 (i.e., Palestinian wave of violence and terror against Israel, approximately 200 Israelis murdered, 1987-1993) and was arrested and sentenced to life in 2002, of which he served approximately 13 years. He completed his university studies inside the occupation’s prison, and he obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science and afterwards a master’s degree.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 10, 2023]
The following are longer excerpts of the statements cited above:
Released terrorist prisoner Karim Younes: “Marwan – as you all know, and I don’t want to repeat things that are known and things that have already been said – has been a leader since his youth, and he is a Fatah member and a member of its [Fatah] Central Committee. You all know this, but I am certain that you also know that [in prison] we would call him: ‘The professor who sits on a pole.’ Forgive me [the expression] ‘the professor who sits on a pole.’ I cannot explain to you how tough, persistent, and loyal he is, because he is the man behind the great achievement, the achievement of academic studies, the systematic studies in the Israeli prisons. No one can describe how this uncompromising man could sit on a bit of iron pipe and put a rag or torn blanket on it and sit from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and lecture to his students, of whom 200 have already completed a master’s degree. I can also say, and you know this, that whoever knew Marwan knows his daily routine. A daily routine as tough as iron, even at the height of the cold and also in summer, in heat and in winter and all the time, Marwan at 6:00-7:00 a.m. goes down to the yard and exercises, at 9:00 a.m. he returns to his room, eats a sandwich with a cucumber or an apple, and at 11:00 a.m. he goes down loaded with books, the textbooks are in his hands, and he continues until 3:00 p.m. without a break with the prisoner students so that they will complete their studies. They complete their studies at Al-Quds [Open] University, but they do not complete their studies like in regular universities. There are those who are surprised and say: They are studying in prison, what exactly are they studying? But the students know, and those who were released and continued to study in universities [outside prison] know the difference between the studies inside prison and outside. Studying with brother Marwan – if the [regular] study material is 2 books, with Marwan it’s 7. A regular class is an hour and a half, with Marwan [it’s] 4 hours.”
[Official PA TV, May 8, 2023]
“For 20 years with their difficult days and nights, Linda Thabet has undergone many sad and also happy events, which she was forced to experience alone after finding herself responsible for a house and three children when her oldest son Thabet was not yet 2 years old. The children Thabet, Dima, and Dania opened their eyes to the iron bars and chains that were wrapped around the wrists of their father Maslama Thabet (i.e., terrorist, participated in murder of 2), whom the Israeli occupation took after it invaded his home in Ramin village in [the] Tulkarem [district] in 2003…
Maslama, 55, who is serving 25 years in prison, is currently in Ketziot Prison. During the years of his imprisonment, he obtained a master’s degree in Israeli Studies, and he is about to complete his doctorate…
He is dedicating himself now to the topic of education in Ketziot Prison, and is giving lectures and exams and supervising the prisoners who are sitting [high school] matriculation exams and bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and this is through the prisoners’ library that belongs to the [PLO] Commission of Prisoners and Released Prisoners’ Affairs.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 15, 2023]
Maslama Thabet – Palestinian terrorist who participated in the kidnapping and murder of Etgar Zeituni and Motti Dayan in Tulkarem on Jan. 23, 2001, as well as additional terrorist activities. Thabet is serving a 25 year sentence.
“Prisoner Maslama Thabet (i.e., terrorist, involved in murder of 2), 55, from Ramin village in the Tulkarem district began his 21st year in the occupation’s prisons yesterday, Thursday [April 6, 2023]…
The [PA-funded] Prisoners’ Club explained that prisoner Thabet, who is imprisoned in Ketziot Prison, obtained a master’s degree in Israeli Studies during the years of his imprisonment, and he is about to complete his doctorate.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, April 7, 2023]
“In a sad sight facing the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the body of Tareq Izz Al-Din (i.e., senior official of Islamic Jihad terror organization, killed during 2023 Operation Shield and Arrow; see note below) was covered next to the bodies of his two small children. Izz Al-Din dreamed of returning to his village of Arraba in [the] Jenin [district], after he was expelled from it when he was released from the Israeli prison…
Tareq served 13 years in the occupation’s prison and was released in the prisoner exchange deal with the occupation authorities in 2011 (i.e., the Shalit exchange deal; see note below), and he ascended [to Heaven] in the early morning hours yesterday, Tuesday [May 9, 2023], in bombings by the occupation’s planes…
It should be noted that Martyr Tareq Izz Al-Din ‘Abu Muhammad’ was born in Arraba on Sept. 14, 1974, and he participated in the Stone Intifada operations in 1987 (i.e., Palestinian wave of violence and terror against Israel, approximately 200 Israelis murdered, 1987-1993) and was arrested and sentenced to life in 2002, of which he served approximately 13 years. He completed his university studies inside the occupation’s prison, and he obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science and afterwards a master’s degree.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 10, 2023]
2023 Operation Shield and Arrow – Israeli counter-terror operation against the Islamic Jihad terror organization in the Gaza Strip, in response to Islamic Jihad rocket attacks targeting Israel and particularly on May 2, 2023, when over 100 rockets were fired at Israel. Israel’s operation began on May 9, 2023, when Israel killed senior Islamic Jihad officials Khalil Al-Bahtini, Tareq Izz Al-Din, and Jihad Al-Ghannam together with 10 others, primarily their relatives, in targeted airstrikes. The terrorists were involved in the previous rocket attacks and were actively planning terror attacks in the West Bank. During Israel's operation, Islamic Jihad launched over 1,000 rockets, murdering 2 Israeli civilians. Approximately 20% of the rockets fell short within the Gaza Strip, killing at least 4 Palestinians. Israel attacked Islamic Jihad terror infrastructure and later in the operation also killed Islamic Jihad officials Ayed Al-Husseini, who was Al-Bahtini's replacement as commander of operations; Ali Ghali, commander of Islamic Jihad's rocket force; and Ghali's deputy Ahmed Abu Daqqa. An Egyptian mediated ceasefire was announced on May 13, 2023.
Shalit exchange / Shalit deal - In October 2011, the Israeli government agreed to release 1,027 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prison in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who had been held hostage by Hamas for more than 5 years.
The first Intifada/The Stone Intifada - Palestinian wave of violence and terror against Israel 1987-1993, in which approximately 200 Israelis were murdered.
“Yesterday [May 9, 2023] prisoners Muammar Shahrour and Fathi Al-Khatib (i.e., terrorists, Shahrour recruited and armed suicide bomber Abd Al-Basset Odeh, and Al-Khatib transported him to the Park Hotel in Netanya where he murdered 30) from Tulkarem began their 22nd year in the occupation’s prisons, after their arrest in 2002.
The [PA-funded] Prisoners’ Club explained that prisoner Shahrour was expelled before his arrest and afterwards underwent a difficult and long interrogation that lasted four months, and the occupation sentenced him to 29 life sentences and another 20 years.
The club noted that Shahrour is considered one of the prisoner activists in the prisons at all levels, and he succeeded in completing his studies and achieved two bachelor’s degrees and is about to receive a master’s degree.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 10, 2023]
Muammar Shahrour – Palestinian terrorist and member of the Izz A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas’ military wing) who recruited suicide bomber Abd Al-Basset Odeh and provided him with the explosive belt with which he murdered 30 Israeli civilians and wounded 140 others at a Passover dinner at the Park Hotel in Netanya on March 27, 2002. Shahrour is serving 29 life sentences and an additional 20 years.
Fathi Al-Khatib – Palestinian terrorist and member of the Izz A-Din Al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas’ military wing) who transported suicide bomber Abd Al-Basset Odeh to the Park Hotel in Netanya, where he murdered 30 Israeli civilians and wounded 140 others at a Passover dinner on March 27, 2002. Al-Khatib is serving 29 life sentences and an additional 20 years.
Additional information on the terrorists who have completed degrees in prison:
Abdallah Barham, Zafer Barham and Fadi Jum’ah – 22-year-old Palestinian terrorists who shot and murdered 29-year-old Israeli civilian Ido Zoldan next to Kedumim, a Jewish town near Nablus, on Nov. 19, 2007. Fatah's military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, said it carried out the attack to express its opposition to the planned Annapolis conference, a Middle East peace conference held on November 27, 2007.
Osama Al-Ashqar - Palestinian terrorist and member of the Tanzim (Fatah terror faction) who sent terrorists to carry out the attack in Hermesh on Oct. 29, 2002, in which 3 Israelis were murdered, and the attack in Kibbutz Metzer on Nov. 11, 2002, in which 5 Israelis were murdered. He was also convicted of being responsible for dozens of shooting attacks in the Tulkarem area. Al-Ashqar is serving 8 life sentences and an additional 50 years.
Tayyoun Abd Al-Hadi Tayyoun, Ahmed Tayyoun, Amar Nawfal, Nassim Jab’iti – Palestinian terrorists and members of Fatah aged 21, 25, 19, and 26 respectively, who murdered Israeli civilian Dr. Daniel Ya’akobi, 59, near Qalqilya on July 27, 2006. Tayyoun Tayyoun murdered Ya’akobi using a wrench and stick when Ya’akobi came to have his car fixed at the garage of Ahmed Tayyoun, Tayyoun’s brother. The terrorists then hid Ya’akobi’s body in the trunk of his car, drove it to a site near Qalqilya, and burned it with his body inside. The four were arrested and confessed; Tayyoun Tayyoun is serving a life sentence.