(18:15) Israeli Arab author escapes Palestinian captors
By The Associated Press
Youssef Samir used to move easily between Israelis and Palestinians, trying to create common ground and preaching co-existence.
But after what he described as 64 harrowing days in a dark Palestinian prison cell, the Egyptian-born writer said from a hospital bed today that he has lost hope for peace.
"I'm sorry that for 32 years I said that peace is good," said a bruised and weary Samir.
The 63-year-old Samir arrived at an IDF checkpoint near the West Bank city of Bethlehem late last night, telling soldiers he had escaped from a Palestinian prison while his guard slept.
Samir said he was arrested by Palestinian police on April 4th while shopping for chicken with his wife in Bethlehem.
Palestinian security officials denied they had held Samir, saying they released him a few days after arresting him on suspicion of collaborating with Israel.
During eight months of bloodshed, the Palestinians have arrested dozens of suspected collaborators. Two have been executed and several are on death row.
"Youssef Samir's new allegations and lies are not true," said Palestinian intelligence chief in the West Bank, Tawfiq al-Tirawi.
Israel TV Channel Two reported today that Samir was released as part of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. It said the deal was reached with the aide of German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who was in the region earlier this week to help work out a cease-fire between the sides.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office refused to comment on the report.
Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said Samir's account was being investigated and police did not yet have any evidence to doubt it.
Samir said he was moved from place to place. His interrogators often threatened to "spend three shekels on the one bullet" to kill him, he said.
"I knew that they would kill me," Samir said, sobbing as his Palestinian wife sat quietly near him at the Jerusalem hospital. "Every day they beat me, with hands, with sticks, with everything."
Interrogators insisted Samir sign a confession that he collaborated with Israel, but he refused, he said. He said he also refused an offer to collaborate with them.
Samir said the prison time reminded him of a sentence he served in the 1960s in Egypt for criticizing the government of then-President Gamal Abdel Nasser. He was released in 1968 and moved to Israel with his family, receiving Israeli citizenship. Most recently, Samir has been living in Jerusalem.
His daughter, Haya, later became the first Israeli Arab to serve in the country's army. She has since become a popular singer.
"There were moments when I thought that my father disappeared with the spirits," a teary-eyed Haya Samir said outside his hospital room. "But he is a spiritual man."
Samir said he was able to get out of his cell late last night when his guard fell asleep. He didn't explain exactly how, but Ben-Ruby said Samir had told police he saw an open door and sneaked through. He ran two hours before getting a ride from a sympathetic Palestinian who took him to the Israeli army checkpoint, he said.
The poet, author and radio journalist said he kissed the ground when he crossed into Israeli-controlled territory.
In his 18 books of poetry and prose, Samir had written of religion, hopes for peace and the plight of Palestinians living abroad.
But today, showing the bruises on his legs, the man who had always found himself in the middle of two peoples, spoke of choosing sides. The peace process may not be a good idea, he said.
"I couldn't believe what they were doing because I thought the Palestinian people were good people," Samir said of the abuse. "I say it's time to reconsider taking another step with these people."
jpost.com
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Funny... now we have Arabs finding themselves supporting retaliation against Arafat and his thugs. |
