From prison to politics

RHONDA SPIVAK

There is growing dispute within the Labor party in Israel about whether to advocate for the release of Fatah terrorist Marwan Barghouti from prison.

Last month, former defence minister Amir Peretz began a campaign to bring about the release of the jailed Palestinian, who Peretz believes is a genuine leader respected by the Palestinian people. Many in the left currently maintain that Barghouti is needed to run the Palestinian Authority with President Mahmoud Abbas, in order to stem the tide of growing support for Hamas in the West Bank and solidify support for Fatah.

In addition to Peretz, the national infrastructures minister, Benyamin Ben Eliezer, who is a close ally of Labor leader Ehud Barak, has also publicly championed Barghouti's release.

Barghouti has been convicted of murder and sentenced to five life sentences in prison for killing Jews and a Christian monk during the second intifada. But, he is also viewed as a rising star in Fatah and is Abbas' likely successor.

At Peace Now's 30th anniversary event last month in Tel Aviv, former PA official Kadura Faras received resounding applause from the crowd when he read out a letter from Barghouti, calling for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. In the letter, Barghouti wrote:

"I, Marwan Barghouti, am telling you that I and a majority of the Palestinian people are ready for a historic agreement based on international decisions that will allow a Palestinian and Israeli state to co-exist, side by side, in peace and stability."

Barghouti also noted that he was among those jailed leaders along with those from Hamas and Islamic Jihad who had forged the Prisoners' Document, which supported negotiations with Israel toward a final-status agreement.

Faras, who read out the letter, was Barghouti's envoy, when the latter played a leading role from jail in mediating the compromise unity agreement between Hamas and Fatah in February 2007.

Many of the speakers at the Peace Now event, which was attended by between 1,000 to 2,000 supporters, stressed the issue of Barghouti's release. As lawyer Sali Reshef stated, "We [in Peace Now] said [many years ago] that if we didn't deal with Fatah, we would have to deal with Hamas.... We have to deal with the existing Palestinian leadership, and we need to free Marwan Barghouti from jail so that we have a partner."

Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit (Kadima) sat nearby Faras and addressed the crowd, saying, "This is my first appearance at a Peace Now gathering.... It takes courage to go against the mainstream." In addition to, Sheetrit urged the Israeli government "to enter negotiations with the Arab world based on the Saudi Initiative."

Some analysts believe Barak may endorse Barghouti's release at some point but has not done so yet because he does not want to undermine the diplomatic process with Abbas. However, in an interview with Yediyot Achronot this month, Barak said, "I do not identify with the excitement of those who are raising the Barghouti issue." He indicated that that he didn't t think that recycling a "leading murderer" was an intelligent move.

Barghouti's relationship with Abbas is somewhat problematic. In late 2004, following Yasser Arafat's death, Barghouti announced from prison in Israel his intention to run in the 2005 PA presidential elections. He eventually withdrew his candidacy, facing pressure from Abbas' faction of Fatah.

In January 2007, then-Israeli deputy prime minister Shimon Peres declared he would sign a presidential pardon for Barghouti if he became president of Israel. However, since winning the presidency, Peres has not announced the signing of such a pardon.

Barghouti, who was born in Ramla, became active in Fatah at the age of 15. By 18, he was arrested by Israel for his involvement with Palestinian militant groups and learned Hebrew during his imprisonment. He was one of the major leaders of the first intifada in 1987 and, during the uprising, was arrested by Israel and deported to Jordan, where he stayed for seven years. He was permitted to return to Israel under the Oslo accords in 1994.

Whatever happens in the Labor party vis-a-vis Barghouti, it does not appear likely that Olmert will support his release, since Olmert is locked in with Abbas as a negotiating partner.

Rhonda Spivak is a Winnipeg freelance writer. She filed this report from Israel.

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