Ibrahim Sarsur. Photo: Knesset.gov.il

MK Sarsur,

To remind you, on March 27, 2002, 250 Israelis celebrated Passover at the Park Hotel in Netanya, Israel. None of them imagined that they would be at the center of one of the most outrageous terrorist attacks of the second intifada.

At around 7:15 pm, while everyone at the hotel was enjoying their meal, a suicide bomber stepped into the hotel and blew himself up. 160 people were injured and 30 innocent people were killed. Even world leaders woke from their apathetic slumber and called for a stop to the terrorism in Israel.

Abbas Al-Sayyid, who was one of the attack’s planners, was arrested by the Israeli army and is now serving 35 life sentences at the Hadarim Detention Center.

MK Sarsur, you also know that in Israel—a country that makes deals with terror groups for the the release of its own— we also provide good conditions to our prisoners.

Terrorists in Israeli prisons can use cell phones that connect to the Internet. They have access to Facebook, YouTube and other tools of communicating with the outside world. They enjoy benefits paid for with Israeli tax money. Some have private TVs, with cable, in their cells, which many Israelis can’t even afford. They have the option to earn an education, and their families are allowed to visit them. Not bad when we consider that some of them are  responsible for the murder of entire families.

MK Sarsur, for these types of people, the only place is in a Dungeon. It’s a simple equation: If you decide to become a terrorist, you will be punished and suffer as your victims have.

Yesterday you visited Abbas Al-Sayyid and heard from him about harsh conditions in Israeli prisons. You spoke to other terrorists and told them you will fight for them to have better conditions in jail.

MK Sarsur – shame on you. You are a disgrace and a shame to the Knesset of Israel. You are a disgrace to the past and future of the country. I despise you and what you represent. You have no place in the Israeli Knesset and certainly not in representing Israeli Arabs. You represent the dark and evil that strengthens the spirit of terrorists – a spirit which led them to such actions as those that led to the murder of my father, who was killed on May 7, 2002 in Rishon Lezion by Israeli Arabs.

A member of the U.S. Congress would, for example, never visit one of the planners of the attack on the Twin Towers. A Congress member would never fight for better conditions for them in prison. The American people would not allow it.

If you represent the State of Israel, then you should fight for a safe future for Israelis—whether they be Arab, Jewish or Christian— and for our future strength.

But MK Saskur—just remember: the government that you fight against is the same government that allows people like you to be part of its spine.

I urge you to put an end to your actions and take a step forward to strengthen Israel’s future. Not the future of terror groups.