​(Communicated by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson)
 
Last night (5 December 2016) at the Fatah congress, Marwan Barghouti was elected to the number-one spot on the Central Committee of the Fatah movement.
 
Barghouti is the leader of a terror organization that encouraged and executed terrorist attacks in which dozens of innocent Israelis were killed and wounded. Barghouti was convicted of his crimes in an Israeli court and sentenced to five life sentences.
 
In choosing Barghouti, Fatah is radicalizing the culture of incitement and terror and giving its blessing to a convicted terrorist. It is moving beyond the fostering of hatred in Palestinian schools and the naming of streets and public squares after murderers. It is now electing murderers to top leadership roles.
 
Barghouti's election amplifies the culture of hatred and only serves to alienate prospects of peace.