From Occupied Palestine

Talking with Marwan Barghouthi
Palestine-Israel Journal vol 13 no 2 (Autumn 2006)

The time has come to open the doors for a young generation of activists

Marwan Barghouthi is a member of the Revolutionary Council of Fateh. He is currently serving a life sentence in an Israeli jail, but is viewed by all observers, including Israelis, as a potential future Palestinian leader. His imprisonment is seen as a political act and his release will constitute a substantial part of any future political breakthrough.

Gush Shalom ad: Future leaders
Ha'aretz, 19 November 2004

FUTURE LEADERS

Yitzhak Rabin was, under the British Mandate, the leader of the prisoners in Rafah prison camp.

Yitzhak Shamir was arrested as a terrorist and exiled to a prison camp in Eritrea.

Menachem Begin was branded as a terrorist with a big prize on his head and blood on his hands, after he blew up the King David Hotel in Jerusalem with a hundred civilian dead.

Prisoners say only heir Barghouti
AMIRA HASS
Ha'aretz, 11 November 2004

Palestinian security detainees are waiting to hear what prisoner Marwan Barghouti has to say: What is his position on the emerging leadership? Does he intend to contend in the planned elections?

According to a lawyer who met with prisoners at Nafha prison this week, the security detainees, particularly those belonging to Fatah, speak of Barghouti as the Palestinian people's new leader. They await his pronouncements as they waver between wanting to give the collective leadership now taking shape a chance and mistrusting it. In any case, as one lawyer overheard the security detainees say, any leadership that arises will not be deemed legitimate nor receive their support if it does not work on behalf of their release.

Talking to Barghouti
ZE'EV SCHIFF
Ha'aretz, 16 July 2004

When Marwan Barghouti, one of the most outstanding Palestinian leaders, was arrested, it was obvious that one of the goals of the interrogators was to use him to implicate Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat of being directly involved with terror. The assumption was that Barghouti was likely to be tempted to pave the path to national leadership for himself by this means. But Barghouti rejected all such attempts.

A Jewish state? 'Definitely'
DAVID LANDAU and AKIVA ELDAR
Ha'aretz, 18 June 2004

Arafat is ready to sign an agreement that would give Palestinians 97 per cent of the West Bank and Gaza - with the rest in a land swap, and the right of return of not all, but at least some refugees. In a free-ranging interview with Haaretz, conducted in the carefully preserved ruins of the Muqata, the PA Chairman also spoke of the historical family bonds between the two peoples.

Marwan Barghouti: Radical pragmatist
GRAHAM USHER
al Ahram Weekly, 3-9 June 2004

Barring events, on 6 June Marwan Barghouti will be sentenced for the murder of four Israelis and one Greek civilian. Israel's state prosecution is recommending five life terms. Few doubt he will receive or -- for a large swathe of Israeli Jewish opinion -- deserve them. "Whatever he was in the past, he was convicted today of murdering Israelis," said an Israeli government spokesman on 20 May, the day of the conviction.

Arafat's likely successor gets five life terms
CHRIS McGREAL
Guardian, 7 June 2004

A Tel Aviv court gave the prominent Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti the maximum sentence of five life terms plus 40 years yesterday for organising killings, a botched suicide bombing, and membership of a "terrorist" group.

Barghouti backers vow kidnappings to force his release
ASSAF BERGERFREUND
Ha'aretz, 20 May 2004

Responding angrily to yesterday's conviction of Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti for the murder of five people, Gaza Strip militants vowed to kidnap Israeli soldiers to exchange them for the West Bank leader of the Fatah-related Tanzim.

Prisoner swap may see potential Arafat successor freed
CHRIS McGREAL
Guardian, 23 September 2003

Israel and the Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbullah are close to agreeing a prisoner swap that could see the release of the man widely viewed as Yasser Arafat's natural successor, Marwan Barghouti.

The hudna began in the prisons
AMOS HAREL
Ha'aretz, 11 July 2003

The leaders of the Fatah prisoners in Israel sent dozens of terrorists on suicide missions and shooting attacks on both sides of the Green Line. But in talks with Haaretz this week, the leaders all proclaimed unwavering support for the cease-fire agreement known as the hudna.

Perhaps surprisingly, they also sent out a message of reconciliation with Israel and expressed hope that the present moves will eventually lead to a peace agreement.