Rajoub: PMW’s director is “the Goebbels of the 21st century”
Rajoub: PMW's director is "the Goebbels of the 21st century"
Jibril Rajoub, one of the top Palestinian Authority leaders, attacked Palestinian Media Watch yesterday, calling PMW's director "the Goebbels of the 21st century." At a press conference, Rajoub blamed PMW for his being fined and suspended by FIFA, adding that PMW is "waging this war [against me] on all fronts":
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"They are waging this war on all fronts. There's Palestinian Media Watch, whose director is Goebbels - Goebbels, Hitler's ideological theorist... He is the Goebbels of the 21st century. He prepared an indictment against me... I traveled to Latin America, and every place I go, believe me, he spreads these accusations. He submitted a complaint to the Olympic Committee, he submitted a complaint to FIFA, and when I traveled to the US - he also spread [his accusations] in the US. The only thing he does is to deal with me."
[Official PA TV Live, Sept. 3, 2018]
In fact, PMW has been using every legal means available to challenge Rajoub ever since he incited to murder Israelis during the 2015-2016 Palestinian terror wave in which 44 Israelis and others were murdered. Rajoub publicly glorified the murderers, calling them "heroes and a crown on the head of every Palestinian" and said that the Fatah Movement "blesses and encourages" the terrorists. Rajoub also openly called for the targeting of "settlers and soldiers."
Since then, PMW has submitted the following complaints against Rajoub:
1- A complaint to the International Olympic Committee to have Rajoub removed as head of the Palestinian Olympic Committee;
4- A complaint to the Israel Police to have Rajoub arrested and investigated for incitement to murder.
During his press conference yesterday, Rajoub cited these legal actions against him undertaken by PMW as part of a "war on all fronts." Rajoub called the press conference in response to FIFA's suspending him for one year from his position as head of the Palestinian Football Association and fining him 20,000 Swiss francs. The PA blames PMW for FIFA's punishing Rajoub, saying FIFA's decision was "based on the claims of an Israeli organization... Palestinian Media Watch." [WAFA, Aug. 24, 2018]
Today, Palestinian Media Watch, together with families of terror victims, added pressure on Rajoub by submitting a petition to the Israeli Supreme Court asking the Court to order the government to respond to PMW's police complaint and investigate him for incitement to murder.
The following is an excerpt from Rajoub's speech at the press conference:
Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association and Fatah Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub: "First of all, they are waging this war on all fronts. There's Palestinian Media Watch, whose director [Itamar Marcus] is Goebbels - Goebbels, Hitler's ideological theorist... He is the Goebbels of the 21st century. He prepared an indictment against me, believe me, [starting] from 1968 when I went into [an Israeli] prison the first time, until today. I traveled to Latin America, and every place I go, believe me, he spreads these accusations. He submitted a complaint to the Olympic Committee (to remove Rajoub from heading the Palestinian committee - Ed.), he submitted a complaint to FIFA (to have Rajoub suspended and fined - Ed.), and when I traveled to the US - he also spread [his accusations] in the US (submitting a complaint to the State Department to have Rajoub's entry prohibited- Ed.). The only thing he does is to deal with me."
[Official PA TV Live, Sept. 3, 2018]
FIFA suspended Jibril Rajoub, Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, from attending games for 12 months on Aug. 24, 2018 and fined him 20,000 Swiss francs. This followed complaints by PMW and the Israel Football Association after Rajoub's actions to prevent a football friendly match between Argentina and Israel in Jerusalem in June 2018. Rajoub called to target the Argentinian Football Association and burn jerseys and pictures of Lionel Messi, which caused Argentina to cancel the match. FIFA ruled that Rajoub violated article 53 (Inciting hatred and violence) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Jibril Rajoub holds the following positions: Head of the PLO Supreme Council for Sport and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee, and Chairman of the Palestinian Scout Association (PSA).