by Nathan Schmidt
Israeli occupation officials claimed that Al-Tamimi family was not real in order to justify violence and oppression against the family members, including the 16-year-old brave girl –Ahed Tamimi.
Former Ambassador to the US and Israel’s current Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Michael Oren has reiterated allegations that the Tamimi family are ‘not Palestinian’ and the products of propaganda.
As recently as 24 January, Oren made thus-far unsubstantiated claims as to the validity of the Tamimi family. In a Twitter post, Deputy Minister Oren claimed the Tamimi family were, ‘part of the Paliwood industry, which sends children to confront IDF soldiers in order to damage Israel’s image for money.’
‘Madness and stupidity’
In response to these allegations, Basim al-Tamimi, father of Ahed, in an exclusive interview with PNN, described the statements as a form of “madness and stupidity of the occupier.”
“[The Israeli Occupation] is drowning in the illusion of power, and therefore thinks in an illogical way.”
Denying Oren’s claims, Tamimi said the family, deeply rooted in the land of Palestine, will not respond to those who have no roots in this land, especially that such allegations aim to deny the family’s right in its own land.
“We are staying here,” Tamimi said.
“If, as the deputy minister claims, everything we did is just a play, then why is Tamimi in porison? They are contradicting themselves in all narratives. They do not want the world to see the true face of the Palestinians,” he added.
Oren’s insinuations
On 19 December, the day which coincided with Ahed Tamimi’s arrest by Occupation forces from her home in Nabi Saleh, a previous post by Oren accused the Tamimi family of ‘(dressing) up kids in American clothes’ and ‘(paying) them to provoke IDF troops on camera.’
‘This cynical and cruel use of children constitutes abuse. Human rights organizations must investigate!’ Israeli Deputy Minister Oren says in his post.
In an article published by newspaper Haaretz on January 25th, Oren is confirmed to have already lead an investigation into the Tamimi family two years ago.
The findings of the Knesset subcommittee concluded that the Tamimi family ‘apparently is a family.’
Haaretz reported that the subcommittee before the Knesset Defence and Foreign Affairs committees heard testimonies from the Israeli intelligence apparatus, including the Shin Bet and the National Security Council.
Spokesman for Deputy Minister Oren confirmed that the minister had initiated the investigation.
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