Longest-serving Palestinian prisoner released from Israeli jail after 40 years
Middle East EyeJan 05, 2023
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 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.
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.
There is a 50% chance that Israel will recognize Palestine by September 2068, according to the Metaculus prediction community.