Saeb Erekat, Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said Israel has responded to Palestinian request to cooperate in fighting the coronavirus pandemic with incursions, killings and demolitions.This is absurd and libelous. While Israel continues to enforce the law in Area C - as it must under international law - it has been cooperating with the PA, and even the UN praised their cooperation.
Saeb Erekat is a liar.
He said that Israel arrested Palestinian leaders in Jerusalem for carrying out work to implement health and awareness measures to stop the spread of the epidemic in the occupied city, and these leaders were prevented from carrying out their duties and responsibilities in protecting the residents of Jerusalem.The second paragraph explains the first. The PA was trying to show it has sovereignty over Jerusalem so it sent its officials to "distribute food parcels" and to "sanitize" Jerusalem's gates. it was a cynical attempt to use the pandemic to act as if they control Jerusalem, and they intended to have their people get arrested so they can claim the evil Jews are stopping their valiant attempts to stop the spread of the virus.
“What do you expect from a prime minister who arrests a minister, a governor and a member of the Executive Committee or a security officer for distributing food parcels in Jerusalem,” he said.
Saeb Erekat is a liar.
“Even aid to the Palestinian people from abroad, either Israel takes half of it or confiscates it.”Usually, Erekat at least pretends to have a factoid to hang his lies on. This is just an outright fabrication. I have heard and seen nothing about this accusation, and on the contrary, Israel has loaned the Palestinian Authority a half billion shekels because of its tax revenue shortfalls from the pandemic - and Israel doesn't expect them to ever repay the loan.
Saeb Erekat is a liar.
He said that Israel did not respond or heed demands for the release of the Palestinian prisoners as stated in international conventions at a time of an outbreak of disease.There are no international conventions that say Israel must release prisoners. The UN Human Rights head called on countries to release political prisoners to help stem the spread of the disease in crowded prisons, but she did not refer to any international law or convention.
After @mbachelet urged governments to reduce overcrowding in prisons to prevent catastrophic rates of #COVID19 infection, we are encouraged to note that a number of countries have indeed been taking action 👉 https://t.co/sNojw9e59U#StopTheSpread pic.twitter.com/VBvp8QYbGe— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) April 3, 2020
Saeb Erekat is a habitual, unrepentant, professional liar.
And yet the international news media still treats him with respect, as if everything that comes out of his mouth isn't lies and propaganda.