Israel: Longest-Serving Palestinian Prisoner Released
Karim Younis, who was convicted in 1983 of the kidnapping and murder of Israeli soldier Avi Bromberg in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and is the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in an Israeli prison, was released on Thursday.
Facts
- Karim Younis, who was convicted in 1983 of the kidnapping and murder of Israeli soldier Avi Bromberg in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and is the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in an Israeli prison, was released on Thursday.
- Younis — dressed in a traditional Palestinian shawl — was greeted by family, friends, and supporters in his hometown of Ara, who chanted slogans and carried him on their shoulders.
- Younis, who became a significant Palestinian figure in prison for his written political works and calls for agreements with Israel, is an Israeli citizen.
- He told Al Jazeera that Israeli authorities moved him multiple times before dropping him off at a bus station in Ranana, a town north of Tel Aviv. He then managed to contact his family with the support of a passerby.
- The release is controversial, as some Israeli political figures have called for him to be re-arrested or stripped of his citizenship. Palestinian Authority Pres. Mahmoud Abbas stated that "the prisoners are all in our eyes, and they are all our brothers, and their cause is sacred for all of us."
- Younis's release comes only a week after Israel swore in a new right-wing government. In addition, according to the Palestinian human rights group Addameer, around 4.7K Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons and detention centers.
Sources: VOA, Reuters, BBC News, Al Jazeera, and Jerusalem Post.
Narratives
- Pro-Palestine, as provided by Middle East Eye. Younis is a hero of the Palestinian struggle for freedom from occupation and deserves to be celebrated for his sacrifice. Though extremists in the Israeli government may attack him rhetorically, Younis will continue to stand firm in his commitment to the Palestinian cause.
- Pro-Israel, as provided by Times of Israel. Younis is not a hero, but simply a terrorist. His release is another example of the moral disparity in this conflict. Israelis are seen as oppressors and occupiers when they call for peace, but Palestinians are lauded as heroes for murdering Israelis.
