Making offensive and distasteful remarks against Christians and Tunisian soccer fans is nasty and unbefitting of a high-ranking Palestinian official.

Jibril Rajoub, chairman of the Palestinian Football Association and a top Fatah official who previously served as commander of the Palestinian Authority's (PA) notorious Preventive Security Force in the West Bank, made the offensive remarks during a recent interview with an Egyptian television station.

Jibril Rajoub, also known by his kunya Abu Rami has previously served 17 years, on and off, in Israeli prison, having been arrested multiple times until he was released in a 1985 prisoner exchange deal. After that, he was the head of the Preventive Security Force in the West Bank until being dismissed in 2002.

He has also spent around 17 years, on and off, in Israeli prison, having been arrested multiple times until he was released in a 1985 prisoner exchange deal. I can't fathom a Palestinian official who insults his Christian brethren and even appease the occupiers who locked you up for 17 years behind bars. This man's shame knows no boundaries.

This moron has enraged Palestinian Christians a few years ago when he said, "Even some of our brothers, the 'Merry Christmas Group,' voted for Hamas [in the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary election]. Today, no one will vote for Hamas. What has Hamas given them? 

In an open letter to Rajoub, Bethlehem Pastor Danny Awad wrote: "We have been here for more than 2,000 years. There are no strangers, guests, or aliens who speak foreign language."

Shame on Jibril Rajoub. I wish to impress upon Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to fire Jibril Rajoub immediate and relieve him of all his duties as a chairman of the Palestinians Football Association. Jibril Rajoub is disgrace to all Palestinians.

Jibril Rajoub confounded me even more when he insulted Tunisian soccer fans when he made bigoted remarks about Tunisia. 

Many Palestinian activists and friends from everywhere took to social media to express their outrage about Rajoub's offensive remarks. Here as some examples:

* Abed Darwiche wrote from Germany, "This creature represents only himself and most of the Palestinian people disown him and others like him who sit in the lap of the enemy and live under the boots of the occupation. In the name of our free Palestinian people, we apologize to our Tunisian brothers for such insolence. Long live green Tunisia and Palestine."

* Nidal Hamad wrote from Norway, "Tunisia, which we love, and its people, whom they love us, and its male and female activists, whom we have known since the days when the struggle had noble meanings, are far greater than a statement made by someone who has previously insulted the Christians of Palestine."

Omar Faris posted this message from Poland, "During my participation in the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, we stopped for several days in Tunisia, where a group of ships joined us. The Tunisian activists formed the largest Arab contingent participating in the flotilla. The entire Tunisian people came out to bid farewell to the flotilla, not to mention the donations they contributed to purchase the ships. The Tunisian men and women consider Palestine their cause and have stood with us from the beginning. When I am in Tunisia, I feel like I am in my own country, Palestine. Long live Tunisia!"

Sahar Alkilani Zahran of Qalqilyah, Palestine, summed it all up by this eloquent post about the subject, "Tunisia is in our hearts and minds the Tunisia of the Arabs and of Arabism. We can never forget the kindness of our Tunisian brothers and sisters towards the Palestinian people as long as we live nor can we forget that it is the great country that embraced the Palestinian people and their cause and supported us in the darkest of times. To Tunisia and its great people, we extend our deepest greetings, respect, love, and appreciation."

Rajoub should be reminded that the Tunisian scientist Mohammed Al-Zoari would be rolling in his grave if he heard Rajoub's statement about Tunisia. Al-Zouari is the Tunisian aviation scientist and engineer who helped Hamas in improving the capability and accuracy of its unmanned aircraft program. He was shot dead at point-blank range in his car out of his home in the Tunisian city of Sfax. Tunisian newspapers blamed Mossad for the killing.

At last, when Palestinian Christians and Tunisians celebrate, Palestinians are happy and when they are in pain, Palestinians feel their pain and sorrow. Jibril Rajoub should be fired.

Mahmoud El-Youseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes on U.S. foreign policy, Middle East affairs, and justice. Email: elyousseph6@yahoo.com